Functional comparison of bone marrow-derived liver stem cells: selection strategy for cell-based therapy.
Several distinct subpopulations of bone marrow-derived liver progenitor cells were recently described. However, there is inadequate information comparing these subpopulations from a liver-function point of view. This study was undertaken to compare two subpopulations of liver progenitors: beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m)-negative/Thy-1-positive cells, and liver progenitors obtained from the non-adherent cell fraction after a panning procedure. The cells were cultured under several conditions including high- and low-dose hepatocyte growth factor, various cellular densities, and different media. Growth characteristics, liver-specific metabolic capacity, and liver regeneration-associated gene expression were studied. Both isolation procedures yielded cells that produced albumin and metabolized ammonia into urea. The study demonstrated that the beta(2)m-negative/Thy-1-positive cell fraction metabolized ammonia into urea more efficiently and produced a superior amount of albumin compared with the panned cell fraction. The beta(2)m-negative/Thy-1-positive cell fraction could be optimal for the development of novel cell-based treatment strategies for congenital or acquired liver diseases.
Inderbitzin
Daniel
D
Department of Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland. daniel.inderbitzin@insel.ch
Avital
Itzhak
I
Gloor
Beat
B
Keogh
Adrian
A
Candinas
Daniel
D
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells