Angiogenesis Enhances the Survival of Cultured Human Fetal Liver Cells

Introduction: Hepatocyte cellular transplantation, a potential alternative to liver transplantation, has been successfully applied in animal models and in clinical studies as a “bridge” to transplantation. This approach is challenged by limited donor hepatocytes and by the inability to maintain the long-term survival and expansion of hepatocytes in vitro. We propose that the in vitro expansion and eventual therapeutic delivery of liver cells would be enhanced by co-culture with endothelial cells in active angiogenesis.