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Updated: Mar 31, 2026
Robust Generation of Hepatocyte-like Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cell Populations
Published on: October 26, 2011
Long-term culture and cryopreservation does not affect the stability and functionality of human embryonic stem
Arundhati Mandal1, Sheena Raju2, Chandra Viswanathan2
1Regenerative Medicine, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt Ltd, Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, R-282, TTC Industrial Area of MIDC, Thane Belapur Road, Rabale, Navi Mumbai, 400 701, India. arundhati.mandal@relbio.com.
Abstract:
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are predicted to be an unlimited source of hepatocytes which can pave the way for applications such as cell replacement therapies or as a model of human development or even to predict the hepatotoxicity of drug compounds. We have optimized a 23-d differentiation protocol to generate hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) from hESCs, obtaining a relatively pure population which expresses the major hepatic markers and is functional and mature. The stability of the HLCs in terms of hepato-specific marker expression and functionality was found to be intact even after an extended period of in vitro culture and cryopreservation. The hESC-derived HLCs have shown the capability to display sensitivity and an alteration in the level of CYP enzyme upon drug induction. This illustrates the potential of such assays in predicting the hepatotoxicity of a drug compound leading to advancement of pharmacology.
