Articles tagged with Hepatocytes
A new technique has enabled the rapid expansion of functional human liver cells in the lab, opening up new avenues for studying drug toxicity, liver disease, and more. The method, known as the 'upcyte' process, allows for the generation of liver cells from multiple donors with similar characteristics to primary human hepatocytes.
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have developed a new technique for growing liver cells from stem cells using synthetic materials, which could lead to mass production of high-quality cells for patient therapies. The process is cost-effective and eliminates the need for animal products, making treatments safer for patients.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have identified a mechanism that propels liver development after birth through alternative splicing, allowing the liver to acquire new functions tailored for adult needs. The study highlights the importance of an RNA binding protein, ESRP2, in controlling this developmental program.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide discovered a family of genes that suppress HCV infection in the liver by blocking viral entry into cells. This natural immune response may lead to new treatments targeting the virus.
Researchers at Hiroshima University developed a new animal model of hepatitis B using humanized mice and found that CTLA4Ig suppressed damage to liver cells infected with the virus. This model is useful for studying immunological reactions and viral clearance in hepatitis B virus infection.
Researchers tested a new liver transplantation procedure using multi-layered sheets of hepatocytes and fibroblasts, which improved liver function in test animals for at least two months. The method showed higher albumin expression levels and better survival rates compared to traditional methods.
Researchers have identified hybrid hepatocytes, which regenerate liver tissue more efficiently than normal cells without causing cancer. These cells offer a promising approach to treating liver diseases and potentially preventing fatal liver failure.
Hybrid hepatocytes, discovered by researchers at University of California - San Diego School of Medicine, have been found to proliferate and replenish liver mass after chronic liver injuries, showing promise as a therapeutic option for liver diseases. Unlike induced pluripotent stem cells, hybrid hepatocytes do not contribute to cancer.
HHMI scientists have discovered functional liver stem cells that proliferate and give rise to mature hepatocytes, even in healthy livers. The newly found stem cells require Wnt signals to maintain their identity and are responsible for replenishing the liver's population.
Researchers found that gout medications targeting uric acid and adenosine triphosphate can protect against alcohol-induced liver damage and inflammation. These findings suggest clinical trials for humans with alcoholic liver disease should be considered to prevent or treat acute episodes of alcoholic hepatitis.
Researchers have successfully created functional liver cells from human embryonic and genetic engineered stem cells. The new method enables unlimited production of liver cells with high accuracy, revolutionizing pharmaceutical drug discovery and potentially improving treatment outcomes.
Researchers have demonstrated a direct connection between two signaling proteins (NOX1 and NOX4) and liver fibrosis, a scarring process underlying chronic liver disease. The study adds credence to a pharmaceutical effort to create new treatments for diabetic nephropathy, liver fibrosis, and other progressive fibrotic diseases.
Scientists have developed a method for isolating primary human hepatocytes and different non-parenchymal cell fractions from the same donor tissue. The isolation process involves a two-step EDTA/collagenase perfusion technique followed by Percoll density gradient centrifugation, adherence separation, and magnetic activated cell sorting.
A study found that female liver cells are more susceptible to adverse effects of drugs than male counterparts, particularly postmenopausal women. The findings highlight the need for a sex-specific approach in toxicology and suggest that current theories cannot explain why women are generally more sensitive to drug toxicity.
Researchers have developed a combination treatment using an antiviral and anti-cancer drug that has proven 100% successful in eliminating hepatitis B virus infections in preclinical models. The treatment targets the cell signalling pathways used by the virus, causing infected cells to die.
Scientists have discovered that the chromosomes in laboratory stem cells open slowly over time, allowing them to respond to growth factors and differentiate into specific cell types. This understanding could lead to advancements in stem cell research and the development of new therapies for diseases such as type 1 diabetes.
Scientists at Children's Hospital/Pitt study discover that restoring HNF4 production can heal damaged liver cells and reverse liver failure in animal models. The gene therapy approach has significant potential for treating patients too sick for transplantation.
Researchers at Rockefeller University found that the Hepatitis C virus binds to miRNA-122, altering gene activity in infected liver cells. This interaction may contribute to liver damage and cancer progression.
A new molecule, endosialin, on hepatic stellate cells drives liver fibrosis by activating these cells. However, its absence improved the regenerative capacity of remaining liver cells without proliferating them. This finding helps understand how liver fibrosis develops and may lead to treatments for other diseases.
MIT researchers have engineered a way to use human liver cells to screen potential antimalarial drugs and vaccines for their ability to treat the liver stage of malaria infection. The approach may offer new opportunities for personalized antimalarial drug testing.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a way to grow liver-like cells from induced pluripotent stem cells that can be infected with several strains of the malaria parasite. These cells offer a plentiful source for testing potential malaria drugs, which are badly needed due to emerging drug resistance.
A UK hospital performed the world's first successful organ donation from a newborn, involving kidney and liver cell transplants. The donor was just over 3 kg at birth and had poor brain oxygenation, leading to her death; however, her parents agreed to donate her organs for other patients in need.
Researchers aim to convert human liver cells into pancreatic beta cells using a novel factor identified in mouse studies. This strategy could provide a patient-specific, autologous cell-based therapy for type 1 and potentially type 2 diabetes.
Researchers have found a new potential target for liver cancer treatment in the protein TREM-1, which accelerates chronic inflammation. Studies suggest that blocking TREM-1 can block the conversion of healthy cells to cancerous ones and even stop progression of existing cancer.
Researchers found that blocking excessive mitochondrial fission reduced reactive oxygen species production and liver cell death in cholestasis. The study suggests novel therapies targeting this process could prevent liver damage.
A new instrument called BioP3 allows assembly of larger structures from small living microtissue components, potentially making whole organs like livers or kidneys. The device uses pre-assembled living building parts with functional shapes and a thousand times more cells per part.
Researchers found that excessive contact between cellular organelles disrupts metabolism in obesity, leading to insulin resistance and diabetes. Disrupting these connections improved metabolic health in obese diabetic mice, pointing to a potential treatment target.
A Mount Sinai-led research team has discovered a new kind of stem cell that can become either a liver cell or a blood vessel cell, contradicting current theory on organ development. This discovery may hold clues to the origins of and future treatment for liver cancer.
Researchers have found that protein AIM can prevent liver cancer development by triggering the complement cascade to eliminate cancerous cells. AIM accumulates on the surface of HCC cells, leading to their destruction.
Scientists have developed a method to inject tonsil-derived stem cells into damaged livers, potentially treating liver disease without surgery. The technique uses a heat-sensitive liquid to grow liver cells on a 3-D scaffold, showing promise as an injectable tissue engineering approach.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine are developing a state-of-the-art 3D liver model to better predict organ physiology, assess drug toxicity and build disease models. The project aims to improve ways of predicting drug safety and effectiveness through collaboration with researchers from 11 institutions.
Researchers at Technical University of Munich have discovered a new site where T lymphocytes can be programmed to attack pathogens. The liver plays a key role in this process, and synthetic messenger Hyper-IL-6 has been found to efficiently activate T cells, offering a promising new adjuvant for vaccine formulations.
A new computer algorithm called CellNet has been created to guide stem cell medicine by providing a 'quality assurance' measure for lab-created cells. The algorithm assesses the complex network of genes in engineered cells, comparing them to their real-life counterparts, and provides guidance on improving the engineering process.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new technique for studying the hepatitis B virus lifecycle, allowing them to investigate immune responses and drug treatments. The model could help find a cure for the disease by understanding how the virus interacts with liver cells.
Researchers discovered that molybdenum trioxide nanoparticles can mimic the function of sulfite oxidase, an enzyme responsible for cellular detoxification processes. The nanoparticles can cross cell membranes and accumulate at mitochondria, recovering sulfite oxidase activity and potentially treating sulfite oxidase deficiency.
Researchers have found that mature liver cells can dedifferentiate into functional progenitor cells, allowing them to regenerate a diseased liver. This discovery challenges long-held theories about the role of stem cells in liver regeneration.
Scientists have developed a liver cancer vaccine that is effective in preventing the disease in mice, with the goal of improving patient survival rates. The vaccine targets a specific protein expressed by most liver cancer cells, allowing the immune system to recognize and attack them.
Researchers developed a nanoscale matrix biomaterial assembly that maintains liver cell morphology and function in microfluidic devices. The technology enables the creation of stable liver microtissues for use in organ-on-a-chip devices to mimic healthy liver physiology and test drug toxicity.
Researchers successfully used CRISPR gene-editing to correct a defective gene in adult mice, allowing them to survive without treatment. The study offers promising hope for treating genetic disorders, including hemophilia and Huntington's disease.
A Rice University-led team of researchers found that liver cells up-regulate glycolytic pathway to produce more energy in response to disease, leading to net gain in metabolic output. The study suggests new treatments to delay liver failure by boosting glycolytic energy production.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes and UCSF have made a breakthrough in regenerative medicine by transforming skin cells into mature, fully functioning liver cells. The new method offers hope for treating liver failure and could serve as an alternative to liver transplants.
Researchers found that prostaglandin E2 presence determines stem cell fate, with more present becoming liver cells and less becoming pancreas cells. The discovery could lead to easier generation of liver and pancreas cells for lab research and future therapies.
Researchers found that co-culturing hepatocytes with mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord or fat tissues improved albumin production, urea production, and viability of hepatocytes. The combination of transplanted hepatocytes and MSCs has great promise in treating acute liver failure.
Researchers found that FOXO3 transcription factor protects against alcoholic liver injury when suppressed, but combination of HCV and alcohol disrupts this protective effect. FOXO3 activation is crucial for autophagy, a cellular degradation pathway that removes damaged mitochondria and prevents liver injury.
Researchers found that the immune system's JunB gene causes liver cells to become inflamed during hepatitis, leading to irreversible damage. The study proposes a new mechanism by which AP-1 acts as a double-edged sword in the liver, contributing to both viral defense and disease progression.
Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine have developed a fast and efficient way to turn fat cells extracted from routine liposuction into liver cells. This method, which uses spherical culture, produces human liver-like cells that flourish inside mice bodies without signs of being tumorogenic.
Scientists have developed a new method to create self-renewing stem cells specific to the human foregut, opening up possibilities for regenerative therapies. The breakthrough technique allows for the growth of pure liver or pancreatic cells in sufficient quantities for clinical use, overcoming current limitations.
Researchers have developed a high-yield method for isolating viable hepatocytes from cryopreserved neonatal livers, showing better thawing recovery than those from adult livers. This breakthrough may provide an alternative source for liver cell transplantation, potentially improving patient outcomes.
A recent study published in Immunity has identified interleukin-33 as a central factor in the formation of liver fibrosis. The research suggests that targeting this molecule could provide a promising new approach to protecting against liver fibrosis and chronic liver disease.
Researchers have developed a new laboratory model to study hepatitis C by infecting monkey stem cells with the virus. The model may lead to new treatments and vaccines for the disease, which affects over three million people in the US.
Researchers have generated functional human liver cells from stem cells and transplanted them into mice with acute liver injury. The stem-cell derived human liver cells were able to function normally and increase the survival of treated animals. This breakthrough demonstrates a scalable method for producing these cells, which could lea...
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have successfully generated human liver cells in a lab setting that are equally effective as those used to assess drug safety, offering a renewable and uniform alternative.
Researchers at the University of Guelph have discovered a liver enzyme that protects cells from bilirubin damage, paving the way for new treatments for jaundice. The enzyme helps remove bilirubin and prevent liver cell death, offering hope for alternative therapies.
Researchers at MIT have identified 12 chemical compounds that help liver cells maintain their normal function while grown in a lab dish, and multiply to produce new tissue. The compounds can also mature induced pluripotent stem cells into fully functional hepatocytes.
Researchers have made progress in targeting cccDNA using novel therapeutic approaches, including liver regeneration and epigenetic control. Studies show that inducing hepatocyte turnover and blocking cell entry can accelerate the clearance of viral minichromosomes.
A new genetic screen has identified the MKK4 gene as a promising therapeutic target to enhance liver regeneration. The study reveals that inhibiting MKK4 can increase hepatocyte production and survival, leading to healthier livers and improved long-term survival in mice.
Researchers at the University of Michigan identified a new potential therapeutic target for lowering cholesterol, inhibiting a gene responsible for transporting a protein that interferes with liver cell function. This approach preserved the liver's capacity to clear plasma cholesterol from the blood without affecting overall health.
Scientists have found that hepatocytes can transform into biliary cells in response to injury, a process dependent on the activation of endogenous Notch signaling. This discovery provides direct evidence for cellular reprogramming in mammals and may lead to new treatments for diseases involving bile duct deficiency.
A protein complex has been identified that acts as a molecular switch turning on the self-regeneration program in the liver, allowing ordinary liver cells to divide and repair tissue damage. This finding challenges the current focus on stem cells and may lead to easier therapeutic treatments.
A line of special liver cells called PICM-19 has the potential to perform many of the same functions as a human liver. The immortal cell line can be used to study various diseases, including liver cancers and cystic fibrosis, and may enable the development of artificial liver devices.