Takara Bio Europe Ab

Cellartis Ab

Gabriella Brolén

Josefina Edsbagge

Barbara Küppers-Munther

Nico Heins

Provided are improved methods using Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) inhibitors by which endodermal cells, notably endodermal cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPS), such as but not limited to hiPS-cells and hES-cells may be differentiated into hepatocyte like cells. The specific modulation of wingless integration gene (WNT)-signalling pathway and use of GSK3 inhibitors achieve direct differentiation and maturation of hepatocytes derived from human pluripotent stem (hPS) cells. GSK-3 inhibitors, when added to the growth medium at certain developmental stages, leads to more mature and functional features for the hepatocyte like cells as well as more pure and homogenous populations of hepatocyte like cells. Provided are also hepatocyte like cells obtained by these methods as well as compositions comprising them.

Directed differentiation and maturation of pluripotent cells into hepatocyte like cells by modulation of Wnt-signalling pathway

The present invention relates to a novel hepatocyte-like cell progenitor and/or a novel hepatocyte-like cell derived via definitive endoderm from human blastocyst-derived stem (hBS) cells, to a method for the preparation of such cells and to the potential use of such cells in e.g. pharmaceutical drug discovery and development, toxicity testing, cell therapy and medical treatment. In particular is presented a definitive endoderm derived hepatocyte-like cell with important liver-expressed marker genes and important metabolizing enzymes, as well as drug transporters.

Growing community of inventors

Gothenburg, Sweden

Gabriella Brolén