Journal article

Hepatocyte-Like Cells Derived from Human Amniotic Epithelial Cells Can Be Encapsulated Without Loss of Viability or Function In Vitro

Vijesh Vaghjiani, Vijayaganapathy Vaithilingam, Indah Saraswati, Adnan Sali, Padma Murthi, Bill Kalionis, Bernard E Tuch, Ursula Manuelpillai

STEM CELLS AND DEVELOPMENT | MARY ANN LIEBERT, INC | Published : 2014

Abstract

Placenta derived human amniotic epithelial cells (hAEC) are an attractive source of stem cells for the generation of hepatocyte-like cells (HLC) for therapeutic applications to treat liver diseases. During hAEC differentiation into HLC, they become increasingly immunogenic, which may result in immune cell-mediated rejection upon transplantation into allogeneic recipients. Placing cells within devices such as alginate microcapsules can prevent immune cell-mediated rejection. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of HLC generated from hAEC and to examine the effects of encapsulation on HLC viability, gene expression, and function. hAEC were differentiated for 4 weeks and..

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Grants

Awarded by NHMRC


Awarded by KAIMRC


Awarded by KACST


Funding Acknowledgements

Study funded by a SMART grant from the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute. U. M. is supported by a Researcher Accelerator Award from Monash University and B. K. by NHMRC grant no. 509178, KAIMRC grant no. RC08/114, and KACST grant no. ARP-29-186. V. Vaghjiani and U.M. are supported by the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Program.