Generation of hepatocytes from human embryonic stem cells.

Use of human hepatocytes for therapeutic and drug discovery applications is hampered by limited tissue source and the inability of hepatocytes to proliferate and maintain function long-term in vitro. Human embryonic stem (hES) cells are immortal and pluripotent and may provide a cell source for functional human hepatocytes (1) Here we have outlined some of the protocols currently in use for the generation of hepatocytes from hES cells.