title: Human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells can differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: Although human amniotic fluid is an attractive source of multipotent stem cells, the potential of amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSCs) to differentiate into hepatic cells has not been extensively evaluated. In this study, we examined whether human AFSCs can differentiate into a hepatic cell lineage in vitro and in vivo. After being treated with cytokines (fibroblast growth factor 4, basic fibroblast growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, and oncostatin), AFSCs developed a morphology similar to that of hepatocytes. RT-PCR and immunofluorescence analysis showed that the treated AFSCs expressed the hepatocyte-specific markers albumin, cytokeratin 18, and alpha-fetoprotein. The differentiated cells also developed hepatocyte-specific functions, i.e., they secreted albumin, absorbed indocyanine green, and stored glycogen. When transplanted into CCl(4)-injured immunodeficient mice, undifferentiated AFSCs were integrated into the liver tissue, and they expressed markers characteristic of mature human hepatocytes. Although integration of AFSCs into the liver was limited (0.1-0.3% of hepatocytes), histological analysis showed that the recipient mice recovered more rapidly from CCl(4) injury than CCl(4)-injured mice that did not receive AFSCs. AFSCs can differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in vitro and in vivo and can represent an easily accessible source of progenitor cells for hepatocyte regeneration and liver cell transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fu-xing Road, Beijing, 100853, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Da-qing
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bao-wei
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li-dong
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Zhi-feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Ya-li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xue-tao
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan-ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Hong-mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lv
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D048430:Cell Shape; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride