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Liver Regeneration

Liver Regeneration

The liver is an important organ in vertebrates that plays an essential role in metabolism. It is also responsible for storing and redistributing nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins in the body. Additionally, the liver releases bile salts which are critical for digesting food and eliminating toxic metabolites from the body.
Cells of Liver
The liver comprises four major types of cells— hepatocytes, stellate, Kupffer, and sinusoidal endothelial cells. The hepatocytes are large...

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Related Experiment Video

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Hepatic Progenitor Specification from Pluripotent Stem Cells using a Defined Differentiation System

Hepatic Progenitor Specification from Pluripotent Stem Cells using a Defined Differentiation System

Published on: May 10, 2020

Putative human liver progenitor cells in explanted liver.

J Laurson¹, C Selden, M Clements

¹Centre for Hepatology, Hampstead Campus, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK.

Cells, Tissues, Organs

|July 24, 2007

Summary

Researchers found evidence of hepatocyte precursors in human explant livers, but reliably culturing these cells to a mature state remains challenging. This study highlights difficulties in isolating and expanding human liver progenitor cells for regenerative medicine applications.

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Last Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Hepatic Progenitor Specification from Pluripotent Stem Cells using a Defined Differentiation System

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Published on: May 10, 2020

Generation of a Humanized Mouse Liver Using Human Hepatic Stem Cells

Generation of a Humanized Mouse Liver Using Human Hepatic Stem Cells

Published on: August 29, 2016

Isolation and Enrichment of Liver Progenitor Subsets Identified by a Novel Surface Marker Combination

Isolation and Enrichment of Liver Progenitor Subsets Identified by a Novel Surface Marker Combination

Published on: February 18, 2017

Area of Science:

Hepatology
Stem Cell Biology
Regenerative Medicine

Background:

Culturing hepatocyte progenitors from human liver is significantly less common than from rodent models.
Human liver explants from transplantation offer a potential source for studying liver progenitor cells.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the presence and culture potential of hepatocyte progenitor cells in human explant livers.
To characterize the phenotype of potential progenitor cells and explore methods for their expansion and differentiation.

Main Methods:

Isolation and culture of non-parenchymal cells from human explant livers (diseased and normal).
Assessment of cell proliferation, phenotype (mRNA and protein expression), and stem cell markers (CD133, CD117, CD49f, c-met) via flow cytometry.
Investigation of telomerase catalytic subunit transduction and growth factor effects on cell survival and differentiation.

Main Results:

Rare (<1 per million cells) proliferating epithelioid colonies with mixed hepatocytic/biliary phenotype were observed.
Colony survival was enhanced by telomerase catalytic subunit transduction.
Specific cell surface markers (CD133, CD117, CD49f, c-met) were analyzed, with CD49f higher in diseased liver and c-met lower.
Enrichment of progenitor populations was not achieved.

Conclusions:

Human explant livers contain histological evidence of hepatocyte precursors.
Predictable culture and differentiation of these human liver progenitor cells into mature hepatocytes remain elusive.
Further research is needed to overcome challenges in isolating and expanding human liver stem cells.