Cambridge Enterprise Limited

Fotios Sampaziotis

Ludovic Vallier

Nicholas Hannan

Kourosh Saeb-Parsy

This invention relates to the expansion of primary cholangiocytes in the form of cholangiocyte organoids (COs) using culture conditions in which canonical Wnt signalling is inhibited and non-canonical Wnt/PCP signalling is potentiated. Methods of expanding primary cholangiocytes, expanded populations of cholangiocytes and medical applications of expanded cholangiocytes are provided.

Methods of expanding cholangiocytes

This invention relates to the efficient generation of cholangiocyte progenitor (CP) cells. Foregut stem cells (FSCs) are cultured in a hepatic induction medium comprising bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and a TGF&#x3b2; signalling inhibitor to produce a population of hepatoblasts. The hepatoblasts are then cultured in a biliary induction medium comprising fibroblast growth factor (FGF), retinoic acid and a TGF&#x3b2; ligand to produce a population of cholangiocyte progenitors (CPs). The cholangiocyte progenitors (CPs) may be matured into cholangiocyte-like cells (CLCs) that display functional properties of Common Bile Duct (CBD) cholangiocytes. Methods, kits, cell populations and uses of these cell populations are provided.

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Hitchin, United Kingdom

Fotios Sampaziotis