Therapeutic potential of stem cell-derived somatic cells to treat metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease and diabetes

Developments in basic stem cell biology have paved the way for technology translation in human medicine. An exciting prospective use of stem cells is the ex vivo generation of hepatic and pancreatic endocrine cells for biomedical application, including novel models ‘in a dish’ and therapeutic strategies for complex disease, such as metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and diabetes. In this review, we explore recent advances in the generation of stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells and insulin-producing β-like cells. We cover the different differentiation strategies, new discoveries, and the caveats that still exit regarding their routine use. Finally, we discuss the challenges and limitations of stem cell-derived therapies as a clinical strategy to manage metabolic disease in humans.