Phenotypic and in vivo functional characterization of immortalized human fetal liver cells.

We report the establishment and characterization of immortalized human fetal liver progenitor cells by expression of the Simian virus 40 large T (SV40 LT) antigen. Well-characterized cells at various passages were transplanted into nude mice with acute liver injury and tested for functional capacity. The SV40LT antigen-immortalized fetal liver cells showed a morphology similar to primary cells.

Characterization and engraftment of long-term serum-free human fetal liver cell cultures.

Background Aims: Cultured human hepatocytes have extensive diagnostic and clinical applications. However, the setting-up of new in vitro culture techniques allowing the long-term survival and functional maintenance of adult human hepatocytes represents a formidable challenge. Fetal liver cells (FLC) are attractive candidate donor cells because of their high proliferative capacity.

Generation of hepatocyte-like cells from in vitro transdifferentiated human fetal pancreas.

Although the appearance of hepatic foci in the pancreas has been described in animal experiments and in human pathology, evidence for the conversion of human pancreatic cells to liver cells is still lacking. We therefore investigated the developmental plasticity between human embryonic pancreatic cells and liver cells. Cells were isolated and expanded from 7-8-week-old human fetal pancreata (HFP) and were characterized for the absence and presence of pancreatic and hepatic markers.