Fixing Livers—Many liver diseases can be cured with liver transplants, but the procedure is complex and requires scarce donor-livers. In a paper published online in Stem Cell Reports on June 11, Drs. Namita Roy-Chowdhury and Jayanta Roy-Chowdhury and colleagues found that transplanting liver cells (iHeps) generated from human pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) could be an alternative to whole liver transplants. The researchers transplanted the iHeps into Gunn rats, which, like patients with Crigler-Najjar syndrome, lack UGT1A1, an enzyme needed for bilirubin detoxification and excretion. This deficiency leads to high bilirubin levels that cause brain injury and death. After transplantation into Gunn rat livers, the iHeps multiplied and expressed UGT1A1, resulting in bilirubin excretion in bile, thereby lowering serum bilirubin levels. The researchers developed the technique for iHep transplantation with Dr. Chandan Guha. Their study is the first to show that transplanting iHeps may help in treating liver disease. Each Dr. Roy-Chowdhury is professor of medicine and of genetics; Dr. Jayanta Roy-Chowdhury also is scientific director of the genetic engineering and gene therapy facility. Dr. Guha is professor and vice chair of radiation oncology, as well as professor of pathology and of urology.
Posted on: Friday, June 26, 2015