title: Hepatocytic differentiation of cultured rat pancreatic ductal epithelial cells after in vivo implantation.
abstract: We have investigated the differentiation potential of propagable cultured rat pancreatic duct epithelial cells after in vivo implantation in isogeneic Fischer-344 rats. Cells genetically labeled with Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase (lacZ) reporter gene were embedded in a mixture of collagen and Matrigel (basement membrane matrix) and implanted either subcutaneously or intraperitoneally. Tissues from the two locations were harvested 4 to 8 weeks later. The great majority of the lacZ-labeled epithelial cells colonizing both sites phenotypically resembled hepatocytes, although they demonstrated different degrees of hepatocytic differentiation. Less than 5% of lacZ-labeled cells formed ductular structures. The hepatocyte-like cells from the subcutaneous implantation site expressed mixed phenotypes of both hepatocyte and ductal cell, including the expression of alpha-fetoprotein, tyrosine amino-transferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, carbonic anhydrase II, and cytokeratin 19. In contrast, the hepatocyte-like cells colonizing the mesentery showed the phenotype of mature hepatocytes, including an abundant glycogen storage and a lack of alpha-fetoprotein and carbonic anhydrase II expressions. Neither acinar cell nor endocrine differentiation was seen. These findings demonstrate that pancreatic ductal cells can be the progenitor cell for transdifferentiated hepatocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Montreal General Hospital/Research Institute, McGill University, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Duguid
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007763:Lac Operon; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D011184:Postoperative Period; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344