Tolloid-Like 1 Negatively Regulates Hepatic Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Through Transforming Growth Factor Beta Signaling.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in Tolloid-like 1 (TLL1) and the expression of are known to be closely related to hepatocarcinogenesis after hepatitis C virus elimination or liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. TLL1 is a type of matrix metalloprotease and has two isoforms in humans, with the short isoform showing higher activity. However, the functional role of TLL1 in human liver development is unknown.

FGF signal is not required for hepatoblast differentiation of human iPS cells.

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells are expected to be utilized in pharmaceutical research and regenerative medicine. In general, human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells through definitive endoderm cells and hepatoblast-like cells using various growth factors that are essential for liver development. Although recombinant bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are widely used in the hepatoblast differentiation, hepatoblast differentiation process has not been fully modified.