Expanding hepatocytes in vitro before cell transplantation: donor age‐dependent proliferative capacity of cultured human hepatocytes

Abstract

The proliferation of human hepatocytes in vitro is critically related to a large fraction of diploid hepatocytes. The expression of regulatory cell cycle proteins reflects the proliferative capacity of cultured human hepatocytes. Juvenile as compared to adult human hepatocytes may be better suited for expansion in culture and could have a stronger repopulation capacity in vivo.