[Differentiation of human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells into low immunogenic and functional hepatocyte-like cells in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the biological function of hepatocyte-like cells derived from mesenchymal stem cells that isolated from human umbilical cord UC-MSCs in vitro, and to detect the changes in the immunogenicity of the differentiated hepatocyte-like cells (DHC).


METHODS
Transdifferentiation of UC-MSCs into hepatic lineage in vitro was induced in modified two-step induction medium. The expressions of hepatic specific markers were detected by RT-PCR analysis and immunofluorescence staining at different time points after induction. The levels of albumin and urea in the supernatants of cultures were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Furthermore, the immunosuppressive property of DHC was detected by one-way mixed lymphocyte culture.


RESULTS
The mRNA and proteins of alpha fetoprotein (AFP), albumin (ALB),and cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) were expressed in naive UC-MSCs at low levels. DHC highly expressed hepatic markers AFP, ALB, CK-19, and tryptophan 2, 3-dioxygenase 14 and 28 days after hepatic differentiation and were accompanied by an increased production of ALB and urea in supernatant in a time-dependent manner. DHC did not express human leukocyte antigen DR antigen and significantly decreased the lymphocyte proliferation.


CONCLUSIONS
UC-MSCs are able to differentiate into functional hepatocyte-like cells in vitro, while the immunogenicity of DHC remains low.
Ren
Hong-ying
HY
State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology, CAMS and PUMC, Tianjin 300020, China.
Zhao
Qin-jun
QJ
Xing
Wen
W
Yang
Shao-guang
SG
Lu
Shi-hong
SH
Ren
Qian
Q
Zhang
Lei
L
Han
Zhong-chao
ZC
D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology*