Dawodu Moses Olorunfemi

• BSc (Hons) Pharmacology
• Derivation of human hepatocytes from pancreatic progenitor cells and their use in a novel drug toxicity screening platform

Producing human hepatocytes from pancreatic progenitor cells could replace the use of animal-derived hepatocytes within the pharmaceutical industry. This study derived hepatocytes (B13H) from pancreatic progenitor cells (B13) cells following exposure to a corticosteroid. Superoxide (O₂-) production by B13H cells in response to ethanol was detected using an O₂- specific electrode.B13H cells produced O₂- in an ethanol concentration dependent manner. Superoxide dismutase (500Units/ml) totally eliminated all responses which indicated that the response was due to O₂-. Control B13 cells did not produce O₂- at any concentration of ethanol. This approach could form the basis of a novel hepatotoxicity screening platform.

Funding Source: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council