Abstract: Differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, such as human embryonic stem cells (hESC), into hepatocytes by in vitro methods is disclosed. The pluripotent stem cells are cultured in conditioned medium from the hepatocarcinoma cell line, HepG2. Specific growth factors and defined media may also be added to the medium for stage specific differentiation of the derived hepatocytes. Hepatocytes differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells may be characterized by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), immunofluorescence analysis (IF), real time polymerase reaction (RT-PCR), and functional assays. The methods disclosed herein are able to differentiate high percentages of hepatocytes from human pluripotent stem cells using the disclosed methods. These differentiated cells may exhibit polygonal shape morphology, typical of hepatocytes, and may express hepatocyte specific genes. The differentiated cells may also be positive for definitive endoderm markers and hepatic markers.

Abstract: Purified preparations of human embryonic stem cells with certain population-specific characteristics are disclosed. This preparation is characterized by the positive expression of the following pluripotent cell surface markers: SSEA-1 (?); SSEA-4 (+); TRA-1-60 (+); TRA-1-81 (+); alkaline phosphatase (+), as well as a set of ES cell markers including Oct-4, Nanog, Rex1, Sox2, Thy1, FGF4, ABCG2, Dppa5, UTF1, Cripto1, hTERT, Connexin-43 and Connexin-45. The cells of the preparation are negative for lineage specific markers like Keratin 8, Sox-1, NFH (ectoderm), MyoD, brachyury, cardiac-actin (mesoderm), HNF-3 beta, albumin, and PDX1 (endoderm). The cells of the preparation are human embryonic stem cells, have normal karyotypes, exhibit high telomerase activity and continue to proliferate in an undifferentiated state after continuous culture for over 40 passages.

Abstract: Purified preparations of human embryonic stem cells with certain population-specific characteristics are disclosed. This preparation is characterized by the positive expression of the following pluripotent cell surface markers: SSEA-1 (?); SSEA-4 (+); TRA-1-60 (+); TRA-1-81 (+); alkaline phosphatase (+), as well as a set of ES cell markers including Oct-4, Nanog, Rex1, Sox2, Thy1, FGF4, ABCG2, Dppa5, UTF1, Criptol, hTERT, Connexin-43 and Connexin-45. The cells of the preparation are negative for lineage specific markers like Keratin 8, Sox-1, NFH (ectoderm), MyoD, brachyury, cardiac-actin (mesoderm), HNF-3 beta, albumin, and PDX1 (endoderm). The cells of the preparation are human embryonic stem cells, have normal karyotypes, exhibit high telomerase activity and continue to proliferate in an undifferentiated state after continuous culture for over 40 passages.