title: Human amniotic epithelial cells possess hepatocyte-like characteristics and functions.
abstract: Hepatocyte transplantation is expected to become a novel method for treatment of liver disease. However, many questions remain regarding this approach, especially concerning donor cells. To evaluate whether human amniotic epithelial cells can be used as a cell source for hepatocyte transplantation, hepatic gene expression and functions of human amniotic epithelial cells were analyzed. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that human amniotic epithelial cells expressed albumin, alpha(1)-antitrypsin, and other hepatocyte-related genes. Cultivated human amniotic epithelial cells demonstrated albumin production, glycogen storage, and albumin secretion consistent with the hepatocyte gene expression profile. In organ culture, the amnion secreted 30-fold larger amounts of albumin than human amniotic epithelial cells in monolayer culture. Moreover, in organ culture the amnion also secreted alpha(1)-antitrypsin. Following transplantation into mice, the amnion survived and secreted albumin. These observations suggest that transplantation of human amniotic epithelial cells and/or amnion could be novel therapeutic strategy for treatment of hepatic diseases, including alpha(1)-antitrypsin deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Regeneration, Institutes of Organ Transplants, Reconstructive Medicine and Tissue Engineering, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, Asahi, Matsumoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takashima
authors.forename: Hirohiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ise
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akaike
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nikaido
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016378:Tissue Transplantation; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D006003:Glycogen