title: Hepatocyte-like cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells.
abstract: The discovery that coordinated expression of a limited number of genes can reprogram differentiated somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) has opened novel possibilities for developing cell-based models of diseases and regenerative medicine utilizing cell reprogramming or cell transplantation. Directed differentiation of iPSCs can potentially generate differentiated cells belonging to any germ layer, including cells with hepatocyte-like morphology and function. Such cells, termed iHeps, can be derived by sequential cell signaling using available information on embryological development or by forced expression of hepatocyte-enriched transcription factors. In addition to the translational aspects of iHeps, the experimental findings have provided insights into the mechanisms of cell plasticity that permit one cell type to transition to another. However, iHeps generated by current methods do not fully exhibit all characteristics of mature hepatocytes, highlighting the need for additional research in this area. Here we summarize the current approaches and achievements in this field and discuss some existing hurdles and emerging approaches for improving iPSC differentiation, as well as maintaining such cells in culture for increasing their utility in disease modeling and drug development.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.|Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.|Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
authors.forename: Namita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roy-Chowdhury
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.|Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.|Department of Radiation Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
authors.forename: Chandan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guha
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA. jayanta.roy-chowdhury@einstein.yu.edu.|Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA. jayanta.roy-chowdhury@einstein.yu.edu.|Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA. jayanta.roy-chowdhury@einstein.yu.edu.
authors.forename: Jayanta
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8097-9225
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roy-Chowdhury
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming / Q000502:physiology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D015398:Signal Transduction
keywords: Cell transplantation; Cellular models of disease; Directed differentiation; Hepatocyte-like cells; Reprogramming; iPS cells