Resident Liver Stem Cells

The peculiar capacity of the liver to maintain a constant size despite injury has fascinated biologists for years and has made it an example for mammalian organ regeneration. This intrinsic process has great potential for benefit in the management of hepatic disorders. Over the past decades, hepatocytes, the main cell type in the hepatic regeneration process, have been the focus of intense research exploring their use to repopulate the liver. However, therapeutic benefits are brief and limited in terms of overall efficacy and survival. In this scenario, hepatocytes differentiated from induced pluripotent cells and liver stem/progenitor cells appear as an alternative source that can generate a limitless supply of useful cells for therapeutic purposes. Liver stem cells or hepatic progenitors can be harvested, expanded, and cryopreserved for immediate use. On the other hand, induced hepatocytes can be used for gene editing, and together with the use of bioengineering organs, this can bring new perspectives to patients in identifying and testing potentially curative drugs for personalized treatments.