Extracellular matrix is required for the survival and differentiation of transplanted hepatic progenitor cells.
Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) gel has been reported to maintain the mature hepatocyte phenotypes in primary cultured hepatocytes. We investigated the effect of EHS gel on the differentiation of fetal liver cells, which contain stem/progenitor cells. The isolated fetal liver cells cultured on EHS gel formed a spherical shape and increased liver-specific gene expressions compared with cells cultured on collagen. The hepatic progenitor cells that were transplanted subcutaneously to BALB/c nude mice could survive and express hepatocyte marker alpha-fetoprotein when the cells were suspended with EHS gel. These findings demonstrate that EHS gel supports cytodifferentiation from immature progenitor cells to hepatocytes and maintain its differentiated phenotypes in vitro and in vivo.
Tsukada
Yoshihiko
Y
Department of Gastroenterology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
Nagaki
Masahito
M
Suetsugu
Atsushi
A
Osawa
Yosuke
Y
Moriwaki
Hisataka
H
D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002470:Cell Survival; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D015870:Gene Expression; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation; D007797:Laminin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D005782:Gels; D007797:Laminin