In vitro generation of 3-dimensional organoid liver structures using differentiatedhuman cells

3D structures resembling embryonic liver buds have recently been described using stem cell-derived cell types (Takebe et al., 2013). Such structures can be transplanted into animals/patients but may also be useful for applications like ex vivo drug toxicity tests. We here used differentiated upcyte® cells which are derived from primary human cells that underwent targeted genetic modification (upcyte® process) in order to transiently induce or extend proliferation resulting in mortal, but expandable, differentiated cells. upcyte® cells can undergo up to 40 additional population doublings, and when contact-inhibit…