Human Liver Cells Further Hepatitis C Research

Stem cell-derived liver cells may be an important new model for studying hepatitis C infection, according to a new publication in Stem Cell Reports. Hepatitis C infection affects 2-3 percent of the population and is a major cause of liver cancer. While there are cell-based models available for studying the virus, they are limited in accessibility, efficacy, and relevance to human physiology. This new in vitro system will allow researchers to more readily and accurately study how the virus interacts with human cells.