Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026

12:40
Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Hepatocyte-like Cells for Drug Discovery
Published on: May 19, 2018
Generation and hepatic differentiation of human iPS cells
Tetsuya Ishikawa1, Keitaro Hagiwara, Takahiro Ochiya
1Core Facilities for Research and Innovative Medicine, National cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan. teishika@ncc.go.jp
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|December 15, 2011
Summary
Researchers generated human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells using a novel retroviral vector method. These iPS cells were then differentiated into hepatic cells for disease modeling and drug discovery applications.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Regenerative medicine
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells hold promise for disease modeling and personalized medicine.
- Efficient generation and differentiation protocols are crucial for their therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a method for generating human iPS cells.
- To differentiate these iPS cells into functional hepatic cells.
- To explore their utility in patient-specific in vitro disease models and drug discovery.
Main Methods:
- Adenovirus-mediated delivery of ecotropic retrovirus receptor mCAT1.
- Moloney murine leukemia virus (MMLV)-based retroviral vectors for delivering four transcription factors: POU5F1 (OCT3/4), KLF4, SOX2, and MYC (c-Myc).
- Stepwise protocol for differentiating human iPS cells into hepatic cells.
Main Results:
- Successful generation of human iPS cells using the described retroviral vector system.
- Demonstrated differentiation of human iPS cells into hepatic cells following a stepwise protocol.
- Established patient-specific in vitro models with potential for drug discovery.
Conclusions:
- The established method provides a viable approach for generating human iPS cells.
- Differentiated hepatic cells derived from iPS cells offer a valuable tool for studying disease mechanisms.
- These iPS cell-derived hepatic models can advance drug discovery by accounting for genetic variations in efficacy and toxicity.
Related Concept Videos
iPS Cell Differentiation
The ability of induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs to differentiate into most body cell types has stimulated repair and regenerative medicine research over the past few decades. iPSC-derived blood cells, hepatocytes, beta islet cells, cardiomyocytes, neurons, and other cell types can repair injuries or regenerate damaged tissue in diseases such as diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic cells are...
Somatic cells are...
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
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 called induced pluripotent stem...
EPS and iPS Cells in Disease Research
Embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells are excellent models for disease research because of their ability to self-renew and differentiate into most cell types. Somatic cells from a patient are isolated and reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs. These iPSCs are later differentiated into the desired cell type, which mirrors the diseased cell of the patient. In this way, disease models have been created for investigating diseases such as Down syndrome, type I diabetes,...

