title: Growth and differentiation of cultured fetal hepatocytes isolated various developmental stages.
abstract: We examined the relationship between cell proliferation and differentiation of cultured rat fetal and newborn hepatocytes isolated from various developmental stages. The albumin production rate increased along with cell growth under in vitro culture and became maximal two days after the growth cessation. AFP was secreted by both fetal and newborn hepatocytes with growth ability. Furthermore, the responses to HGF addition in fetal hepatocyte cultures were observed in terms of growth stimulation and down-regulated of the Met receptor. We also studied the changes in RB and liver enriched transcription factors (C/EBPs) for investigating the mechanism underlying proliferation and differentiation of fetal hepatocytes. Western blot analysis of hepatocytes taken from various gestation stages of rat liver showed that the expression of RB and C/EBP beta increased as gestation stage proceeded. When RB antisense S-oligonucleotide was added to the culture medium, proliferation and AFP expression increased, while C/EBP alpha and albumin expressions decreased. These results indicated that the tumor suppressor gene product RB had a profound role not only in cell proliferation but also hepatocyte differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Japan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hamamoto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamihira
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iijima
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015153:Blotting, Western; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000235:genetics; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000235:genetics; D012588:Scintillation Counting / Q000662:veterinary; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D004247:DNA; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met