In collaboration with Barbara Treutlein of MPI of Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, and Cincinnatti Children’s Hospital, the group of Hideki TANIGUCHI has elucidated the regulatory mechanism of human liver bud development. The team used single-cell RNA sequencing to reconstruct hepatocyte-like lineage progression from pluripotency in two-dimensional culture. By reconstituting hepatic, stromal, and endothelial interactions, 3D liver bud organoids were obtained, and heterogeneity during liver bud development was deconstructed.

Nikkei Biotech news release, June 19, 2017