Establishing an in vitro 3D model of functional human liver organoids

Abstract

Background and Aims: Primary hepatocytes are considered the gold standard human liver cell model; although availability of human liver tissue remains a challenge and difficulties in isolating viable cells potentially limits their use. Three-dimensional (3D) liver tissues reconstituted from liver cells, termed liver organoids, have enormous potential for investigating aspects of liver disorders. The aim of our study was by integration of multiple novel techniques, including state-of-the-art laparoscopic liver resection, engineering of growth factors or morphogens bound to extracellular matrix, direct cell reprogramming to produce functional 3D liver organoids.