title: An in vivo model for monitoring trans-differentiation of bone marrow cells into functional hepatocytes.
abstract: The plasticity of bone marrow cells (BMCs) remains controversial. The present study found that persistent injury induces efficient trans-differentiation of BMCs into functional hepatocytes. Mice with liver cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride were injected with 1 x 10(5) non-treated green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive BMCs via the tail vein. In these mice, transplanted GFP-positive BMCs efficiently migrated into the peri-portal area of liver lobules after one day, repopulating 25% of the recipient liver by 4 weeks. In contrast, no GFP-positive BMCs were detected following transplantation into control mice with undamaged livers. BMCs trans-differentiated into functional mature hepatocytes via immature hepatoblasts. Serum albumin levels were significantly elevated to compensate for chronic liver failure in BMC transplantation. These results reveal that recipient conditions and microenvironments represent key factors for successful cell therapy using BMCs.
authors: Department of Molecular Science & Applied Medicine (Gastroenterology & Hepatology), Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Minami Kogushi 1-1-1, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505. terais@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp
authors: Shuji
authors: S
authors: Terai
authors: Isao
authors: I
authors: Sakaida
authors: Naoki
authors: N
authors: Yamamoto
authors: Kaoru
authors: K
authors: Omori
authors: Tomomi
authors: T
authors: Watanabe
authors: Shinya
authors: S
authors: Ohata
authors: Toshiaki
authors: T
authors: Katada
authors: Koji
authors: K
authors: Miyamoto
authors: Koh
authors: K
authors: Shinoda
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Nishina
authors: Kiwamu
authors: K
authors: Okita
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005355:Fibrosis; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride