Hepatocytes ; immunology ; Liver Transplantation ; immunology

Animals ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Mice ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells ; cytology

The extensive regenerative capacity of hepatocytes and the key roles of the liver in metabolic processes have generated interest in the liver as an appropriate target for cell and gene therapy. If cells were considered as natural biomaterials, then liver cell transplantation would fall within the general field of bioengineering. While unmodified hepatocytes engraft in the liver and ectopic sites, biological modifications and optimization of bioengineered systems would facilitate engraftment and survival of transplanted cells, especially in ectopic locations. Acute liver failure, chronic liver disease and metabolic deficiency states are among the conditions that can potentially be treated by cell transplantation. In acute liver failure, cell transplantation into the liver, along with the creation of an extrahepatic reservoir of cells might be required because engraftment and proliferation of transplanted cells in the liver needs time. In other situations, gradual liver repopulation alone might well be effective without additional manipulations.
Animal ; Biocompatible Materials* ; Biomedical Engineering* ; Hepatocytes/transplantation* ; Human ; Liver*

Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Graft Rejection ; prevention & control ; Hepatocytes ; transplantation ; Humans ; Liver Failure ; surgery

Cells, Cultured ; Hepatocytes ; transplantation ; Humans ; Liver ; cytology ; Liver, Artificial ; Stem Cells ; cytology

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; Hepatocytes ; transplantation ; Humans ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic

Hepatocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; transplantation ; Humans ; Liver Failure ; therapy ; Living Donors ; Tissue Donors

Female ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; transplantation ; Humans ; Liver ; cytology ; Liver Failure ; surgery ; Male ; Tissue Donors

Animals ; Hepatocytes ; transplantation ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; genetics ; surgery ; therapy ; Liver Failure ; surgery

PURPOSE: Whole liver transplantation has limitation including donor shortage and fatal surgical complications. Hepatocyte transplantation, which is simpler and less expensive than whole liver transplantation, allows the use of living related donors, permits the use of a single donor organ for multiple recipients. However, hepatocytes have limitation in proliferation and lose their property during culture period. To over come these problems, here we performed differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into definitive endoderm in order to differentiate into hepatocytes efficiently. METHODS: Undifferentiated hESCs were maintained on mouse embryo fibroblast feeder (MEF) layer for 5~7 days. For endoderm differentiation, we used modified Kevin A D'Amour's method that added 100 ng/mL Activin A for 5 days. After differentiation, differentiated endodermal cells were collected and RT-PCR and immunostain analysis were performed. RESULTS: After 5 days of differentiation period, hES cells showed endoderm committed-cells and increased expression of endoderm-specific marker genes (Sox17 and Foxa2). Also differentiated endoderm cells were stained with Sox17 and Foxa2 whereas undifferentiated hES cells were not stained with Sox17, Foxa2. CONCLUSION: In vitro differentiotion from hES cells to definitive endoderm was done repetitively by our methods. Further well defined protocol for differentiation of definitive endoderm to hepatocytes should be made.
Activins ; Animals ; Embryonic Stem Cells* ; Embryonic Structures ; Endoderm* ; Fibroblasts ; Hepatocytes ; Humans* ; Liver Transplantation ; Mice ; Tissue Donors