In vitro transformation of peripheral monocytes to putative hepatopoetic progenitors with hepatocyte-like glucagon responsiveness

Introduction: Since shortage in donor organs and side effects by the obligatory live-long immunosuppressive therapy necessitate the search for alternatives to liver transplantation, considerable effort is focussed at establishing cell based therapies. Transformed peripheral monocytes have been described as a possible source of hepatocyte-like cells. Aim of this study was to establish the generation of peripheral blood monocyte-derived hepatocytoid cells to enable their further use in transplantation experiments. Methods: Peripheral monocytes of healthy donors underwent gradient centrifugation and adherence separ…