Table 1.
Cell type | Usage | Benefits | Limitations and risks |
---|---|---|---|
Primary human hepatocytes | Cell transplantation | Compatibility | Limited availability, Difficult isolation, Poor in-vitro multiplication |
Rapid functional deterioration | |||
Porcine hepatocytes | Bioartifical liver | Availability | Functional deterioration in vitro |
Limited biocompatibility | |||
Immunogenicity | |||
Risk of xenozoonoses | |||
Cell lines | |||
Tumor-derived cell lines | Bioartifical liver | Unlimited expansion potential | Low functional activity |
Immortalized cell lines | Possible tumorigenic activity | ||
Human fetal hepatocytes | Cell transplantation | Extensive in vitro proliferation | Ethical issues |
Limited availability | |||
Possible tumorigenicity | |||
Oval cells | Cell transplantation | Bi-potent, Liver stem cell | Controversy over existence |
Stem cells | |||
Embryonic stem cells | Cell transplantation | Pluripotency, Proliferation capacity | Lack of standardized protocol for obtaining scalable amounts of differentiated cells Poor understanding of differentiation process |
Mesenchymal stem cells | |||
Induced-pluripotent stem cells | |||
Induced hepatocyte-like cells | Needs more investigation | Bypassing complicated steps | Functional stability and safety not proven |
Autologous source | |||
Less tumorigenic |