Transdifferentiation of pancreatic cells to hepatocytes.

Hepatocytes maintained in culture provide an attractive model system for the study of liver function. Furthermore, hepatocyte transplantation offers an alternative cellular therapy to orthotopic liver transplantation for the treatment of hepatic failure and hereditary liver disease. To overcome the problem of organ shortage, additional source of hepatocytes must be found. Here, we present a strategy and protocol to transdifferentiate (or convert) developmentally related pancreatic cells into hepatocytes based on the addition of the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone.