Stem Cells From Pigs Could Help Power Artificial Human Liver

There may be a silver lining-quite literally-for those suffering from chronic or acute liver failure. This health conditions causes toxins to take over the body that cause the skin to turn yellow and slow higher brain functions. However, in an interview with the American Society of Animal Science, researchers discuss how a line of pig liver cells called PICM-19 could perform many of the same functions as a human liver.

"There is no effective therapy at the moment to deal with the toxins that build up in your body," said Neil Talbot, a Research Animal Scientist for the USDA Agricultural Research Service. "Their only option now is to transplant a liver."

Yet Talbot is hoping to create some substantial changes with his new finding.

In 1991, Talbot created PICM-19 from the cells of an 8-day-old pig embryo. The cell line is significant because it is "immortal," meaning the cells can divide an infinite number of times. These immortal cells continue to divide because they are derived from cancer cells. However, PICM-19 cells are derived from epiblast cells, the embryonic stem cells that form in the early stages of embryo development.

Talbot notes in his research that these cells primarily do all the functions of a liver.

"The PICM- 19 cells are the cells that really do all the metabolic functions of the liver," said Talbot.

As artificial livers are still in development, Talbot points out other applications for PICM-19 cells. Fellow scientists have used PICM-19 to study malaria, toxoplasmosis and hepatitis viruses. Researchers could also use the cells to study certain cancers of the liver or investigate the changes in the bile duct associated with cystic fibrosis.

Hopefully, we'll see some big changes soon with the studies.