This review encompasses the most important advances in liver functions and hepatotoxicity
and analyzes which mechanisms can be studied in vitro. In a complex architecture of nested …

The use of novel drugs and chemicals requires reliable data on their potential toxic effects
on humans. Current test systems are mainly based on animals or in vitro–cultured animal …

During chronic injury a population of bipotent hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) become
activated to regenerate both cholangiocytes and hepatocytes. Here we show in human …

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are a valuable source of pluripotential primary cells.
To date, however, their homogeneous cellular differentiation to specific cell types in vitro has …

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent precursor cells originating from several
adult connective tissues. MSCs possess the ability to self-renew and differentiate into …

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are chemical alterations to a protein following
translation, regulating stability and function. Reversible phosphorylation is an example of an …

Background Definitive endoderm (DE) is one of the three germ layers which during in vivo
vertebrate development gives rise to a variety of organs including liver, lungs, thyroid and …

The emergence of regenerative medicine has led to significant advances in the identification
and understanding of human stem cells and adult progenitor cells. Both cell populations …

Despite considerable progress in modelling human liver toxicity, the requirement still exists
for efficient, predictive and cost effective in vitro models to reduce attrition during drug …

Understanding and characterizing absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion
(ADME) properties of new chemical entities and drug candidates is an integral part of drug …