A refined characterisation of the NeoHepatocyte phenotype necessitates a reappraisal of the transdifferentiation hypothesis.
Under certain culture conditions human peripheral blood monocytes may be induced to express phenotypic markers of non-haematopoietic lineages, including hepatocyte-defining traits. One such example, the NeoHepatocyte, was previously shown to express a broad panel of hepatocyte-like marker antigens and metabolic activities, both in vitro and following engraftment in the liver of immunodeficient mice. In this report, a refined description of NeoHepatocytes, with regard to their expression of xenobiotic-metabolising enzymes, morphology, hepatocyte marker expression and cell surface phenotype, is presented in comparison with human macrophages in defined states of activation. Contrary to prior assertions, it would seem more likely that NeoHepatocytes express particular hepatocyte-defining genes during a normal programme of macrophage differentiation rather than undergoing a process of transdifferentiation to become hepatocyte-like cells.
Riquelme
Paloma
P
Department of General and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Division of Transplantation Medicine and Biotechnology, University Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Strasse 7, D-24105 Kiel, Germany.
Wundt
Judith
J
Hutchinson
James A
JA
Brulport
Marc
M
Jun
Yu
Y
Sotnikova
Anna
A
Girreser
Ulrich
U
Braun
Felix
F
Gövert
Felix
F
Soria
Bernat
B
Nüssler
Andreas
A
Clement
Bernd
B
Hengstler
Jan G
JG
Fändrich
Fred
F
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006915:Hydroxytestosterones / Q000378:metabolism; D015151:Immunoblotting; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D013552:Swine; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D006915:Hydroxytestosterones; D013739:Testosterone; C045261:16-hydroxytestosterone