title: Characterization and hepatogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells from human amniotic fluid and human bone marrow: a comparative study.
abstract: Since stem cells can differentiate into hepatocyte, stem cell-based therapy becomes a potential alternative treatment for terminal liver diseases. However, an appropriate source of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) for hepatocytes has not yet been clearly elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro biological characterization and hepatic differentiation potential of human amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AF-hMSCs) and human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-hMSCs). Our results show that AF-hMSCs possess higher proliferation and self-renewal capacity than BM-hMSCs. Cytogenetic studies indicate that AF-hMSCs are as genetically stabile as BM-hMSCs. Following incubation with specific hepatogenic agents, AF-hMSCs showed a higher hepatic differentiation potential than BM-hMSCs. Expression of several liver-specific markers was significantly greater in AF-hMSCs than in BM-hMSCs, as shown by real time RT-PCR and immunofluorescence (IF). In conclusion, AF-hMSCs possess superior potential for hepatic differentiation, making them more suitable for diverse terminal liver diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Yu-Bao
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Zhi-Liang
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Chan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Hai-Peng
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Jun-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu Tian
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Chong
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology*; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D043171:Chromosomal Instability / Q000235:genetics; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers