Human embryonic stem cells as a tool to study hepatocyte differentiation

ABSTRACT: The availability of pluripotent stem cells offers the possibility of using such cells to model hepatic disease and development. With this in mind, we previously established a protocol that facilitates the differentiation of both human embryonic stem cells and induced pluritpotent cells into cells with hepatocyte characteristics. The use of highly defined culture conditions and the avoidance of feeder cells or embryoid bodies allowed synchronous and reproducible differentiation to occur. The differentiation toward a hepatocyte–like fate appeared to recapitulate many of the stages normally associated with the formation of hepatocytes in vivo. In the current study we addressed the feasibility of using human pluripotent stem cells to probe the molecular mechanisms underlying human hepatocyte d

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

SUBMITTER: Stephen Duncan 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-25417 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress