Functional, immature hepatocyte differentiation from human embryonic stem cells

This protocol presents a means of inducing hESC to differentiate to hepatocyte-like cells, that limits cell proliferation without affecting cell viability. In the process of differentiation, cells take on a cuboidal/hexagonal-like structure morphology, and organize as a single layer. This differentiation strategy gives rise to morphologically and functionally hepatocyte-like cells which maintain immaturity (markers: Alf, Sox2).