Hepatocyte Differentiation
Hepatocyte Differentiation - Related Videos
05:49
Robust Generation of Hepatocyte-like Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cell Populations
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Cited by 26 •
2011
This article will focus on the generation of human hepatic endoderm from human embryonic stem cell populations.
07:09
Isolation of Human Hepatocytes by a Two-step Collagenase Perfusion Procedure
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Cited by 93 •
2013
A modified two-step collagenase perfusion procedure for isolation of human hepatocytes is described. This method can also be applied to other mammalian livers. The isolated hepatocytes are available in high yield and viability, making them a suitable model for scientific research in areas such as liver regeneration, pharmacokinetics and toxicology.
08:32
Induction of an Inflammatory Response in Primary Hepatocyte Cultures from Mice
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Cited by 7 •
2017
Here, we show an enzymatic approach to isolate primary hepatocytes from adult mice, and we describe the quantification of an inflammatory response using ELISA and real-time PCR.
11:24
Intrasplenic Transplantation of Hepatocytes After Partial Hepatectomy in NOD.SCID Mice
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Cited by 1 •
2018
We have described a protocol for performing partial hepatectomy (PHx) and cell transplantation via spleen in NOD.SCID (NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid/J) mice. In this protocol, an incision is made to expose and resect the left lobe of the liver followed by another incision for the intrasplenic transplantation of cells.
08:14
Hepatocyte-specific Ablation in Zebrafish to Study Biliary-driven Liver Regeneration
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Cited by 18 •
2015
To help assess the molecular mechanisms underlying zebrafish biliary-driven liver regeneration, we established a liver injury model in which the nitroreductase-expressing hepatocytes are genetically ablated upon metronidazole treatment. In this protocol, we describe how to adeptly manipulate, monitor and analyze hepatocyte ablation and biliary-driven liver regeneration.
FAQs
Transcriptional regulators and signaling pathways coordinate the gene-expression changes that establish hepatic identity. Their combined activity directs cells away from a less specialized state and toward liver-specific characteristics, including production of metabolic enzymes and functions associated with albumin secretion and bile processing. This coordination is central to generating cells that display multiple hepatocyte-like properties rather than a single isolated marker.
Evidence of hepatocyte-like specialization includes the appearance of liver-associated metabolic enzyme production, albumin secretion, and bile-processing activity. These outcomes assess function as well as cellular identity, helping researchers determine whether differentiation has produced cells with a broader hepatic phenotype. Examining several functions together provides more informative evidence than relying on one change in gene expression alone.
Metabolic enzyme production demonstrates that differentiated cells have developed an important functional feature of liver parenchymal cells. It also makes these cells relevant to studies of drug metabolism and toxicity, where liver-associated metabolic capacity is necessary for evaluating how compounds may be processed or produce harmful effects. Thus, enzyme production connects cellular maturation with practical research use.
Directed differentiation generates hepatocyte-like cells from pluripotent stem cells for experimental studies. Researchers can use these cells to investigate liver development, model inherited and acquired diseases, and evaluate drug metabolism and toxicity. The approach is especially valuable when experiments require liver-related cells but access to scarce primary human hepatocytes is limited.
Disease-modeling systems based on hepatocyte-like cells allow researchers to study how inherited or acquired conditions affect liver-related cellular functions. Measurements such as metabolic enzyme production, albumin secretion, and bile processing can connect a disease state with changes in hepatic behavior. This creates an experimental setting for examining disease biology using cells generated through directed differentiation.
These cells provide a potential source of liver-related cells for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, where researchers need alternatives to scarce primary human hepatocytes. Their value comes from combining an expandable stem-cell-based origin with specialized hepatic functions, including albumin secretion, metabolic activity, and bile processing. Such systems support investigation of engineered liver tissues and regenerative strategies.