Stem cells could help create better understanding of hepatitis C, develop treatments

Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rockefeller University and the Medical College of Wisconsin have developed liver-like cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) that could help scientists better understand hepatitis C. The iPSCs are derived from normal body cells such as skin. Specific genes are turned on to revert them to the same state as embryonic stem cells, and then they are programed to become liver-like cells using the genes that control liver development. These new cells can be infected with hepatitis C, potentially helping to solve the mystery of why certain people respond differently to treatment and aid in the creation of personalized treatments. The “hepatitis C virus causes an unusually robust infection in some people, while others are very good at clearing it. It’s not yet known why those differences exist,” explains Sangeeta Bhatia, an MIT professor who collaborated with professors from the two other universities on the study.