title: Human hepatic stellate cell line (LX-2) exhibits characteristics of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: The LX-2 cell line has characteristics of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which are considered pericytes of the hepatic microcirculatory system. Recent studies have suggested that HSCs might have mesenchymal origin. We have performed an extensive characterization of the LX-2 cells and have compared their features with those of mesenchymal cells. Our data show that LX-2 cells have a phenotype resembling activated HSCs as well as bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). Our immunophenotypic analysis showed that LX-2 cells are positive for activated HSC markers (αSMA, GFAP, nestin and CD271) and classical mesenchymal makers (CD105, CD44, CD29, CD13, CD90, HLA class-I, CD73, CD49e, CD166 and CD146) but negative for the endothelial marker CD31 and endothelial progenitor cell marker CD133 as well as hematopoietic markers (CD45 and CD34). LX-2 cells also express the same transcripts found in immortalized and primary BM-MSCs (vimentin, annexin 5, collagen 1A, NG2 and CD140b), although at different levels. We show that LX-2 cells are capable to differentiate into multilineage mesenchymal cells in vitro and can stimulate new blood vessel formation in vivo. LX-2 cells appear not to possess tumorigenic potential. Thus, the LX-2 cell line behaves as a multipotent cell line with similarity to BM-MSCs. This line should be useful for further studies to elucidate liver regeneration mechanisms and be the foundation for development of hepatic cell-based therapies.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 (6° andar do HC) Ribeirão Preto 14048-900, Brazil. andrielle_dcf@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Andrielle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castilho-Fernandes
authors.forename: Danilo Candido
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.forename: Aparecida Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fontes
authors.forename: Fernanda Ursoli Ferreira
authors.initials: FU
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Virgínia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Picanço-Castro
authors.forename: Marcela Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Maristela D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Orellana
authors.forename: Patricia V B
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: Perry B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Hackett
authors.forename: Scott L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Dimas Tadeu
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Covas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D010012:Osteogenesis
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD