Evaluation of the differentiation potential of WB-F344 rat liver epithelial stem-like cells in vivo. Differentiation to hepatocytes after transplantation into dipeptidylpeptidase-IV-deficient rat liver.
After intrahepatic transplantation into livers of adult syngeneic German-strain Fischer 344 rats that are deficient for the bile canalicular enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), cultured WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells (without exogenous marker genes) integrate into hepatic plates and differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells that are morphologically and functionally indistinguishable from mature hepatocytes. In this model system, the differentiated progeny of transplanted WB-F344 cells are identified among the DPP-IV-negative host hepatocytes by their expression of bile canalicular DPP-IV enzyme activity. DPP-IV-positive hepatocyte-like cells also expressed other markers of hepatocytic differentiation, including albumin, transferrin, and alpha-1-antitrypsin, suggesting that the progeny of transplanted WB-F344 cells express a complete hepatocyte differentiation program. These results complement our previous studies indicating WB-F344 cells can serve as stem-like precursor cells for differentiated hepatocytes and strengthen the suggestion that WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells represent the cultured counterpart of liver stem-like hepatocyte progenitor cells present in the normal adult rat liver.
Coleman
W B
WB
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill 27599, USA.
McCullough
K D
KD
Esch
G L
GL
Faris
R A
RA
Hixson
D C
DC
Smith
G J
GJ
Grisham
J W
JW
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*
D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4