Tiny Liver Grown from Umbilical Cord Stem Cells.

In a remarkable breakthrough, scientists in Britain have grown the first human liver derived from umbilical cord stem cells. The mini-livers are just the first step in the development of full artificial livers that could be used to replace diseased or damaged organs and save lives.

Such advances have led to a worldwide call for parents to donate and store umbilical cord blood after their babies' birth. The stem cells are derived without harming the donor in any way, unlike embryonic stem cells. Umbilical cord cells have also been used to treat blood disorders, such as leukemia.

Prof. Colin McGuckin and Dr. Nico Forraz of Newcastle University announced their success October 30, according to the Daily Mail. They gathered stem cells from umbilical cord blood, then placed them in a "bioreactor," a device developed by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The bioreactor simulates weightlessness and helps the cells to multiply quickly.

The team then added hormones and chemicals to turn the undifferentiated cells into liver cells, the Daily Mail reported. So far, they have successfully created tiny livers less than an inch in diameter.

The scientists said that within two years they expect large enough livers can be created to use in clinical trials of pharmaceuticals. "When a drug company is developing a new drug it first tests it on human cells and then tests it on animals before beginning trials on humans," McGuckin told Press Association News.

"Moving from testing on animals to humans is a massive leap and there is still a risk," he said. "But by using the mini-livers we have developed there is no need to test on animals or humans."

They hope that within five years, patients awaiting transplants could be connected to artificial livers for a short time, giving their damaged livers time to rest and prolong their lives, the Daily Mail reported.