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.