Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cholangiocytes. Issue 3 (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kamiya, Akihide; Chikada, Hiromi
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in gastroenterology. Volume 31:Issue 3(2015:May)
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1097/MOG.0000000000000180
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0267-1379

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Purpose of review</title> <p>Pluripotent stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells and inducible pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, have high proliferative multipotency for differentiation into mature functional cells that are useful for treatment and basic research on several diseases. Cholangiocytes are differentiated from fetal hepatic progenitor cells (hepatoblasts) and are important for transport of bile acids that are synthesized by mature hepatocytes in the liver. However, the molecular mechanisms of development and function of human cholangiocytes remain unknown. This review mentions the potential of human cholangiocytic culture from pluripotent stem cells to contribute to the analyses of the human bile duct system and diseases.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Recent findings</title> <p>Recent studies found that human hepatic cholangiocytic cells can be differentiated from human embryonic stem and iPS cells in a suitable culture condition. Cholangiocytic cysts have epithelial cell polarity formed in a three-dimensional cell culture system using extracellular matrices.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Summary</title> <p>Disease pathogenesis was elucidated <italic>in vitro</italic> using differentiated cells from disease-related iPS cells. Using genome-editing enzymes, iPS cells with disease-specific gene mutations can be easily and rapidly established. These disease-related iPS cells and cholangiocytic culture system may be useful for analyses and drug screening of human bile duct diseases.</p> </sec> </abstract>