As a biotechnology company with many years of experience and a dedicated research team in the field of cell reprogramming, Creative Bioarray provides technical support to help clients reprogram skin cells into mature, fully functional hepatocytes. Our efficient scientific services will contribute to your major scientific research achievements.
Background
The liver is the central regulator of the body's metabolism, secretes a variety of hormones, produces blood clotting factors, and plays a key function in preventing toxins from damaging other organs in the body. Liver failure is an increasingly common disease that causes progressive and irreversible loss of liver function. Some studies have shown that hepatocytes generated from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) could potentially be used for therapeutic purposes. However, ethical considerations related to the generation of ESCs from pre-implantation embryos and the fact that ESCs have a different genetic composition from patients limit the possible use of this therapy.
In recent studies, researchers have suggested that reprogrammed skin cells could be used to study and potentially treat metabolic liver disease. Earlier studies attempted to reprogram skin cells back to a pluripotent stem cell-like state for subsequent growth of liver cells. A new approach to cell reprogramming has emerged that can directly transform human skin cells into hepatocytes that are virtually indistinguishable from the cells that make up natural liver tissue. These results provide new hope for many people who suffer from or are at risk of developing liver failure.
Fig.1 Protocol for stepwise iMPC-hepatocytes generation. (Zhu, 2014)
Our Strategies
Over the years, Creative Bioarray has successfully developed strategies to transform skin cells into hepatocytes to meet our clients' scientific needs. The strategies we provide include but are not limited to:
- Reprogramming skin cells from patients with liver disease to produce cells similar to ESCs, and then enabling these skin cell-derived pluripotent stem cells to mimic the normal differentiation process of liver cells, ultimately producing specific hepatocytes.
- Transformation of human skin cells into cellular endoderm-like cells using a "cocktail" of reprogrammed genes and compounds. These cells are then further transformed into hepatocytes and transplanted into mice with liver failure to continue growth and become functional liver cells.
Applications
- Molecular and genetic studies of human hepatic diseases
- Drug toxicity screening
- Identification of new pharmaceuticals with potential to treat multiple metabolic diseases
Advantages
- Innovative and rigorous experimental technicians
- Superb level of experimental operation
- Flexible solutions tailored to the client's needs
- Detailed and complete experimental reports
Creative Bioarray takes the needs of our customers as the direction to strive for and has always been aiming for high quality and long-term development over the years. We are pleased to offer you the service of reprogramming skin cells into functional hepatocytes by developing experimental strategies according to your requirements. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
Reference
- Zhu, S.; et al. Mouse liver repopulation with hepatocytes generated from human fibroblasts. Nature. 2014, 508(7494): 93-97.