Abstract
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can undergo unlimited self-renewal and differentiate into hepatic cells, including expandable hepato-blasts (HBs) and hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) in vitro. Therefore, hESC-derived HBs have the potential to become a renewable cell source for cell therapy of serious liver damage. However, one of the key challenges for such cell therapy is the allogeneic immune rejection of hESC-derived HBs. To overcome this challenge, we developed a strategy to protect the hESC-derived HBs from allogeneic immune rejection by ectopically expressing immune suppressive molecules CTLA4-Ig and PD-L1, denoted CP HBs. Like HBs derived from normal hESCs, CP HBs are capable of repairing liver damage in animal models. Using humanized mice (Hu-mice) reconstituted with human immune system, we showed that CP HBs are protected from allogeneic immune system and can survive long-term in Hu-mice. These data support the feasibility to develop CP HBs into a cell therapy to treat serious liver damage.