title: Generation of glycogen- and albumin-producing hepatocyte-like cells from embryonic stem cells.
abstract: We present a novel two-step protocol for the differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells into the hepatic lineage. Differentiated hepatocyte-like cells express genes and proteins characteristic for endodermal and hepatic cells and acquire a functional hepatic phenotype as demonstrated by albumin secretion and glycogen storage. During differentiation, alpha-fetoprotein, albumin, transthyretin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, cytochrome P450 subunits 2b9 and 2b13 and tyrosine aminotransferase transcripts are upregulated. Quantitative RT-PCR data revealed a fetal hepatic phenotype corresponding to day 13-14 of liver development. Terminally differentiated hepatocyte-like cells show a bi-nucleated, cuboidal morphology labeled by albumin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, liver amylase, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, c-met and cytokeratin 18. ES-derived intermediate cell types transiently and partially co-express nestin with albumin and alpha-fetoprotein, respectively, but not cytokeratin 19. This finding suggests an ES-derived potential hepatic progenitor cell type, which is partially nestin-, albumin- and alpha-fetoprotein-positive, but cytokeratin 19-negative.
authors.affiliation: In vitro Differentiation Group, IPK Gatersleben, D-06466 Gatersleben, Germany.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kania
authors.forename: Przemyslaw
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blyszczuk
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jochheim
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wobus
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D006003:Glycogen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D006003:Glycogen