Researchers identify compounds that help liver cells grow
outside the body.
Prometheus, the mythological figure who stole fire from the
gods, was punished for this theft by being bound to a rock. Each day, an eagle
swept down and fed on his liver, which then grew back to be eaten again the
next day.
Modern scientists know there is a grain of truth to the
tale, says MIT engineer Sangeeta Bhatia: The liver can indeed regenerate itself
if part of it is removed. However, researchers trying to exploit that ability
in hopes of producing artificial liver tissue for transplantation have
repeatedly been stymied: Mature liver cells, known as hepatocytes, quickly lose
their normal function when removed from the body.