METHOD OF PREPARING MATURE HEPATOCYTE-LIKE CELL

摘要

It is intended to provide a method of preparing a mature hepatocyte-like cell which comprises culturing mesenchymal stem cells in the presence of oncostatin M, dexamethasone and TGF-ß and thus inducing the differentiation thereof into mature hepatocyte-like cells. The mature hepatocyte-like cell thus obtained has the cellular functions and morphological characteristics of hepatocytes. It has been also confirmed that the above cell is infected with hepatitis viruses such as HCV. The mature hepatocyte-like cell as described above is useful in evaluating the metabolism and hepatotoxicity of a test compound. Moreover, the mature hepatocyte-like cell as described above is usable in screening a remedy for liver diseases, a hepatitis virus-infection inhibitor, a remedy for viral hepatitis and so on.