[Induced differentiation of rat hepatic oval cells in-vitro by combined hepatocyte growth factor and epidermal growth factor treatment].
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the biologic featrues of hepatic oval cells and their protein expression profiles during induced differentiation in vitro.


METHODS
Rat hepatic oval cells were treated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in vitro, followed by morphological and molecular marker assessment by electromicroscopy, immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR and protein expression chip technology.


RESULTS
Ten weeks after induction, the levels of GST-P mRNA and M2-PK mRNA were significantly reduced, whereas those of ALB and CK18 were elevated. Significant variations of expression was seen in 8 protein species during the course of the induced differentiation.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined EGF and HGF treatment in vitro induces cell differentiation of hepatic oval cells, a process in which 8 protein species may play some regulatory roles.
Liu
Jun
J
Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Xue
Ling
L
Zhang
Meng
M
Che
Li-hong
LH
Wu
Hui-xi
HX
Hu
Rui-de
RD
D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053538:Keratin-18 / Q000378:metabolism; D040081:Protein Array Analysis; D011770:Pyruvate Kinase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000418:Albumins; D053538:Keratin-18; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D011770:Pyruvate Kinase