Source: Seattle Times
Posted: June 13, 2006
Summary:
University of Washington scientists have made significant progress toward learning how to repair severely damaged human livers with stem cells.
A team of UW researchers for the first time isolated liver stem cells from human fetuses, grew them in the laboratory for months and infused them in laboratory mice, where they replaced thousands of dead liver cells.
If the experimental work continues successfully in the years to come, the technique could one day repair livers badly damaged by drug overdoses, hepatitis and alcoholism.
Commentary: Hopefully these results can be translated into effective treatments for liver ailments in humans and replicated enough in a diverse population to be considered a truly valid and successful experiment.
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