Vol.26 No.5（2004 October）：503-508

Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells into Hepatocytes

Yi-Fang Cui, Ai-Lian Liu*

（Center for Developmental Biology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200092, China）

Abstract: Embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cells with the potential to give rise to all three primary germ layers of the embryo. ES cells have been regarded as a new cell source for cell replacement therapy. Recently, differentiation of hepatocytes from ES cells has been reported using either in vitro, in vivo differentiation protocols, or protocols combining both approaches. Although hepatocytes derived from ES cells promise a potential for treating liver or liver-related diseases, further studies are needed to improve in vivo integration of these cells.

Key words: embryonic stem (ES) cell; hepatocyte; differentiation

*Corresponding author. Tel: 86-21-65032508, Fax: 86-21-55570017, E-mail: al_liu@yahoo.com