Derivation and characterization of hepatocytes from embryonic stem cells in vitro.

From a therapeutic perspective on liver, the use of embryonic stem (ES) technology in the generation of a large number of high-functional hepatocytes developed from ES cells for cell transplantation is anticipated. We have explored a three-dimensional culture system in which hepatocytes differentiated from mouse ES cells by transfection with the hepatocyte nuclear factor-3beta possess high metabolic functions that can be maintained long term.