LIVER ENGRAFTING CELLS, ASSAYS, AND USES THEREOF

摘要

A substantially enriched mammalian hepatic liver engrafting cell population isprovided. Methods are provided for the isolation and culture of this liverengrafting cell. The progenitor cells are obtained from a variety of sources,including fetal and adult tissues. The cells are useful in transplantation,for experimental evaluation, and as a source of lineage and cell specificproducts, including mRNA species useful in identifying genes specificallyexpressed in these cells, and as targets for the discovery of factors ormolecules that can affect them.