Methods and means to identify inducing proteinaceous molecules, products obtainable thereby and their uses

摘要

Identification of proteins (I) that induce a reaction in a first cell (FC) when expressed, and secreted, by a second cell (SC) comprises introducing a nucleic acid (II) that expresses at least a functional part of a protein is into SC which are then co-cultured with FC, any reaction induced in FC is detected and (II) in active SC is analyzed. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) (I) identified by the new method; (2) a method for keeping, or bringing, a group of hepatocytes in culture into an essentially differentiated state by treating them with (I); and (3) a bioartificial liver comprising hepatocytes treated with (I).