| abstract |
This invention relates to culture methods that allow the efficient long-term expansion of biliary progenitor cells, in the form of organoids. The methods comprise culturing a population of primary liver cells in a biliary progenitor expansion medium comprising epidermal growth factor (EGF), a ΤGFβ inhibitor, a non-canonical Wnt signalling potentiator and a ROCK inhibitor, to produce an expanded population of biliary progenitor cells. The biliary progenitor cells are bipotent and may be further differentiated into hepatocytes and cholangiocytes. Culture methods, cell populations and uses thereof are provided. |