Due to its efficacy in animal models, cellular therapy using human hepatocytes is being evaluated worldwide as an alternative to organ transplantation in patients with liver-based metabolic disease and acute liver failure. In Hepatocyte Transplantation: Methods and Protocols, an international panel of experts provide up-to-date laboratory and clinical techniques covering the many key areas necessary for successful transplantation, such as cryopreservation, quality assurance, detection of cell engraftment, and the future of the field with the development of foetal hepatoblasts and stem cell derived hepatocytes. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology(TM) series format, the chapters in this volume present brief introductions to the material, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, readily reproducible, step-by-step laboratory protocols, and Notes sections which highlight tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Human Hepatocyte Transplantation Overview.- Isolation of Human Hepatocytes.- An Optimised Method for Cryopreservation of Human Hepatocytes.- Liver Cell Culture Techniques.- In vitro Assays for Induction of Drug Metabolism.- Hepatocyte Apoptosis.- Small Animal Models of Hepatocyte Transplantation.- Hepatocyte Transplantation Techniques: Large Animal Models.- Cell Transplant Techniques: Engraftment Detection of Cells.- Hepatic Preconditioning for Transplanted Cell Engraftment and Proliferation.- Ex vivo Gene Transfer into Hepatocytes.- Sources of Adult Hepatic Stem Cells: Haematopoietic.- Production of Hepatocyte-like Cells from Human Amnion.- Generation of Hepatocytes from Human Embryonic Stem Cells.- Isolation, In vitro Cultivation and Characterisation of Foetal Liver Cells.- Human Intrahepatic Biliary Epithelial Cell Lineages: Studies in vitro.- Liver Cell Labelling with MRI Contrast Agents.- Microbiological Monitoring of Hepatocyte Isolation in the GMP Laboratory.