The present invention describes an efficient and rapid three-step protocol that is able to rapidly generate hepatocyte-like cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells. According to the method, the iPS cells can be differentiated into functional hepatocyte in short time course (less than 15 days). The iPSC-derived hepatocytes of the invention had a similar gene expression profile to mature hepatocytes. Moreover, the hepatocyte-like cells rescued lethal fulminant hepatic failure in mouse model. The rapid and efficient differentiation protocol for generation of iPSC-derived hepatocytes may offer an alternative option for treatment of liver diseases.本發明係關於一種能夠有效且快速引導誘導式全能型幹細胞(iPS細胞)分化成肝細胞之方法。根據本發明之方法，iPS細胞可在短時間(較佳係少於15天)內分化成功能性肝細胞，所得之肝細胞不僅具有類似成熟肝細胞之基因表現型，且已在小鼠模式中證明，可援救致死的猛爆性肝衰竭。由於本發明之方法能大幅縮減習知技術產生功能性肝細胞所需的時間，因此可有效解決等待肝臟移植時病患正常肝功能之維持問題。
