Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes have the functional and proliferative capabilities needed for liver regeneration in mice.

The study establishes that mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated in a clinically acceptable fashion can in principle give rise to hepatocytes that function and proliferate similar to primary hepatocytes. Recapitulating these results with hepatocytes derived from human iPSCs in cell culture is expected to provide the basis for an effective liver cell therapy.