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Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Fate Mapping of Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Teratoma Formation
Published on: August 1, 2010
Cell fate decisions of human iPSC-derived bipotential hepatoblasts depend on cell density
Nina Graffmann1, Audrey Ncube1, Wasco Wruck1
1Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Medical faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Abstract:
During embryonic development bipotential hepatoblasts differentiate into hepatocytes and cholangiocytes- the two main cell types within the liver. Cell fate decision depends on elaborate interactions between distinct signalling pathways, namely Notch, WNT, TGFβ, and Hedgehog. Several in vitro protocols have been established to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into either hepatocyte or cholangiocyte like cells (HLC/CLC) to enable disease modelling or drug screening. During HLC differentiation we observed the occurrence of epithelial cells with a phenotype divergent from the typical hepatic polygonal shape- we refer to these as endoderm derived epithelial cells (EDECs). These cells do not express the mature hepatocyte marker ALB or the progenitor marker AFP. However they express the cholangiocyte markers SOX9, OPN, CFTR as well as HNF4α, CK18 and CK19. Interestingly, they express both E Cadherin and Vimentin, two markers that are mutually exclusive, except for cancer cells. EDECs grow spontaneously under low density cell culture conditions and their occurrence was unaffected by interfering with the above mentioned signalling pathways.
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