Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026
07:37
Efficient Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Liver Cells
Published on: June 11, 2019
9.2K
Human liver-derived stem cells.
Alastair J Strain1, Heather A Crosby, Sarbjit Nijjar
1University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. a.j.strain@bham.ac.uk
Seminars in Liver Disease
|January 15, 2004
Summary
Researchers are investigating human liver stem cells for regenerative medicine. Current methods face challenges with cell availability and marker specificity, hindering clinical applications like cell transplantation.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology and Stem Cell Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Identifying human liver stem cells is crucial for developing new therapies.
- Fetal hepatocytes (hepatoblasts) show potential but are limited in availability.
- Existing stem cell markers (OV6, CD34, c-kit, NCAM) lack specificity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current state of research on human liver stem cells.
- To highlight challenges in identifying and utilizing these cells for clinical applications.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on human liver stem cell identification and characterization.
- Analysis of candidate stem cell markers and their limitations.
- Discussion of molecular signaling and transcription factors involved in liver cell differentiation.
Main Results:
- Several markers have been proposed for identifying liver stem cells, but specificity remains an issue.
- Understanding of molecular pathways controlling liver cell differentiation is advancing.
- Clinical translation of current liver stem cell approaches is not yet established.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to identify specific markers for human liver stem cells.
- Overcoming limitations in cell availability and marker specificity is essential for clinical success.
- The therapeutic potential of liver stem cells for transplantation and gene therapy requires further validation.
Related Concept Videos
01:33Adult Stem Cells
33.4K
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce more stem cells or progenitor cells that differentiate into mature, specialized cell types. All the cells in the body are generated from stem cells in the early embryo, but small populations of stem cells are also present in many adult tissues including the bone marrow, brain, skin, and gut. These adult stem cells typically produce the various cell types found in that tissue—to replace cells that are damaged or to continuously...
33.4K
00:58Embryonic Stem Cells
32.1K
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease.
32.1K
00:57Embryonic Stem Cells
4.8K
Embryonic stem (ES) cells were first discovered in mice in 1981 by Martin Evans. In 1998, James Thomson identified a method to isolate embryonic stem cells from humans. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are obtained from 3-5 day old embryos that remain unused after an in vitro fertilization procedure.
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
4.8K
01:13Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
27.3K
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different types of cells. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are post-mitotic—that is, they no longer divide. However, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they “de-differentiate” and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are also pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are therefore...
27.3K
01:31Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body
6.4K
Fats and lipids are crucial components in the human body. Some lipid-derived compounds, such as fat-soluble vitamins, eicosanoids, lipoproteins, and glycolipids, also play unique roles to support various biological processes .
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin,...
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin,...
6.4K
01:18Distinctive Features of Adult Stem Cells vs Cancer Stem Cells
4.5K
A stem cell is an unspecialized cell that can divide without limit as needed and can, under specific conditions, differentiate into specialized cells.
Adult stem cells
Adult stem cells are tissue-specific; hence, they divide to develop the tissue from which they originate. One type of adult stem cell is the epithelial stem cell, which gives rise to the keratinocytes in the multiple layers of epithelial cells in the epidermis of the skin. Adult bone marrow has three distinct types of stem cells:...
Adult stem cells
Adult stem cells are tissue-specific; hence, they divide to develop the tissue from which they originate. One type of adult stem cell is the epithelial stem cell, which gives rise to the keratinocytes in the multiple layers of epithelial cells in the epidermis of the skin. Adult bone marrow has three distinct types of stem cells:...
4.5K