[A study on the transdifferentiation of adipose mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocytes].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possibility of transdifferentiation of adipose mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) into hepatocytes.


METHODS
Human omentum adipose tissue was dispersed with collagenase I. Cells collected were cultured in a DMEM-F12 medium containing 2% FBS supplemented with 20 ng/ml HGF, 10 ng/ml FGF4, 1xITS and 0.1 micromol/L dexasmison. The cells of the control group were also cultured in the same kind of medium but without any cytokines serving as a control. The expression of hepatic transcriptional factors such as GATA4 and HNF1 were checked by RT-PCR. At the end of the induction, hepatocyte markers were analysed by flow cytometry, and cytokeratin expressions were examined using cyto-immunofluorescence methods.


RESULTS
AMSCs grew like fibroblasts and were passaged easily. Most of the third passaged AMSCs were positive against anti-CD29, anti-CD44 antibodies, but negative for the anti-CD34 and anti-CD45 ones. The hepatic transcriptional factor was expressed gradually to higher levels during the induction time. AFP and Alb positive cells were 30.0% and 17.8% of the total cultured cells, and the rate of cells positive to the two markers was 6.9%. The inducted cells were positive for CK18 and CK19 antibodies at the end of the induction. The cells in the control group were negative when checked by these methods.


CONCLUSIONS
AMSCs could be directed to differentiate into hepatocytes in vitro by a cytokine cocktail with a low concentration FBS culture system.
Liu
Zhan
Z
Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410005, China. liuzhan2004@126.com
Shi
Ze-ya
ZY
Zhou
Hui-xin
HX
Wu
Ming-hao
MH
She
Zhou-jun
ZJ
Li
Yi-ni
YN
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*