Functioning liver from stem cells
(AFP) / 9 June 2012
Japanese researchers have created a functioning human liver from stemcells, a report said, raising hopes for the manufacture of artificial organs for those in need of transplants.
A team of scientists transplanted induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into the body of a mouse, where it grew into a small, but working, human liver, the Yomiuri Shimbun said.
Stemcells are frequently harvested from embryos, which are then discarded, a practice some people find morally objectionable. But iPS cells which have the potential to develop into any body tissue can be taken from adults.
A team led by professor Hideki Taniguchi at Yokohama City University developed human iPS cells into precursor cells, which they then transplanted into a mouses head to take advantage of increased blood flow.
The cells grew into a human liver 5 millimetres in size that was capable of generating human proteins and breaking down drugs, the Yomiuri reported. The breakthrough opens the door to the artificial creation of human organ. Taniguchis research could be an important bridge between basic research and clinical application but faces various challenges before it can be put into medical practice, the Yomiuri said.