Present and Future Perspectives of Using Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Organoid Against Liver Failure

Abstract

Organ failure manifests severe symptoms affecting the whole body that may cause death. However, the number of organ donors is not enough for patients requiring transplantation worldwide. Illegal transplantation is also sometimes conducted. To help address this concern, primary hepatocytes are clinically transplanted in the liver. However, donor shortage and host rejection via instant blood-mediated inflammatory reactions are worrisome. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells have been developed as an alternative treatment. Recently, organoid technology has been developed to investigate the pathology and mechanism of organoids in cultures. Organoids can be transplanted with vascularization and connected to host blood vessels, and functionally mature better in vivo than in vitro. Hepatic organoids improve pathology in liver disease models. In this review, we introduce induced pluripotent stem cell- and organoid-based therapies against liver diseases considering present and future perspectives.