[Expression of albumin during hepatocyte differentiation by human bone marrow stem cells].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the expression pattern of albumin during the hepatocyte differentiation by human bone marrow stem cells in vitro.


METHODS
Human bone marrow cells were harvested and cultured in the presence of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and lymphocyte inhibitory factor (LIF). Cells were stained immunohistochemically by albumin specific antibody and examined under a confocal microscope. Supernatant albumin level was measured biochemically on a serial time points of the culture.


RESULTS
By this condition, the attached cells became mature morphologically in 1 week of culture. Hepatocyte-specific albumin could be detected in mature cells. The albumin level revealed a time-dependent change during a 4-week culture.


CONCLUSIONS
Human bone marrow cells could be induced to differentiate to mature hepatocytes that produce and secret albumin in vitro. These cells may contribute to a stable source of hepatocytes for clinical hepatocyte transplantation and artificial liver support system.
Li
Bing-lu
BL
Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China. libinglume@sina.com
Qu
Qiang
Q
Zhao
Yu-pei
YP
He
Xiao-dong
XD
Wang
Lei
L
Chen
Cui-zhu
CZ
Liu
Zhen-yuan
ZY
D000418:Albumins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology
D000418:Albumins; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor