Biotech Updates

Liver-like Tissue Grown in the Lab

June 29, 2012

A team of Japanese scientists from Yokohama City University reported that they have induced stem cells to form functional liver-like tissue in a petri dish. Takanori Takebe, one of the scientists, reported this during the annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research in Yokohama last week.

The team placed induced pluripotent stem cells on a specialized growth medium for nine days. They analyzed the cells and found that they contained a biochemical marker of maturing liver cells known as hepatocytes. Takebe added two more types of cell that would help recreate organ-like function. After two days, the cells assembled into a tissue which they called a liver bud because it resembles the early developmental stage of a liver.

The team has a lot of work to do but their initial results are promising. If the team becomes successful in their study, the findings could lead to big clinical advancements.

Read more at http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=rudimentary-liver-grown-in-lab.