Research involving differentiated embryonic stem (ES) cells may revolutionize the study of liver disease, improve the drug discovery process, and assist in the development of stem-cell-based clinical therapies. Generation of ES cell-derived hepatic tissue has benefited from an understanding of the cytokines, growth factors and biochemical compounds that are essential in liver development, and this knowledge has been used to mimic some aspects of embryonic development in vitro. Although great progress has been made in differentiating human ES cells into liver cells, current protocols have not yet produced cells with the phenotype of a mature hepatocyte. There is a significant need to formally establish criteria that would define what constitutes a functional human stem cell-derived hepatocyte. Here, we explore current challenges and future opportunities in development and use of ES cell-derived liver cells. ES-derived hepatocytes could be used to better understand liver biology, begin the process of "personalizing" health care, and to treat some forms of liver disease.

中文翻译：

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将干细胞分化为肝脏。

涉及分化的胚胎干（ES）细胞的研究可能会彻底改变肝病的研究，改善药物发现过程，并协助开发基于干细胞的临床疗法。ES细胞源性肝组织的产生受益于对肝发育必不可少的细胞因子，生长因子和生化化合物的了解，并且该知识已被用于模拟体外胚胎发育的某些方面。尽管在将人ES细胞分化为肝细胞方面已经取得了很大的进步，但是目前的方案尚未产生具有成熟肝细胞表型的细胞。迫切需要正式建立标准，以定义构成功能性人类干细胞的肝细胞。这里，我们探索在开发和使用ES细胞来源的肝细胞方面的当前挑战和未来机遇。ES衍生的肝细胞可用于更好地了解肝生物学，开始“个性化”医疗保健以及治疗某些形式的肝病。