title: In vitro differentiation of rat mesenchymal stem cells to hepatocyte lineage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mesenchyme is a type of undifferentiated loose connective tissue that is derived mostly from mesoderm. Recently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as adult stem cells (ASCs) able to divide into a variety of different cells, are of utmost importance for stem cell research. In this research, ability of the liver extract to induce differentiation of rat derived omentum tissue mesenchymal stem cells (rOT-MSCs) into hepatocyte cells (HCs) was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  After isolation and confirmation of rOT-MSCs they were co-cultured with liver extract and hepatogenic differentiation was monitored. Expressions of mesenchymal stem cell markers were also analyzed via flow cytometry. Moreover, expressions of octamer-binding transcription factor-4 (Oct-4), Wilm's tumor suppressor gene-1 (WT-1), albumin (ALB), alpha fetoprotein (AFP), cytokeratin-18 (CK-18), and mRNAs were analyzed using RT-PCR on days 16, 18 and 21. ALB production was analyzed by immunocytochemistry and western blot. Furthermore, glycogen and urea production were determined via periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining and colorimetric assays respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The phenotypic characterization revealed the positive expressions of CD90, CD44 and negative expression of CD45 in rOT-MSCs. These cells also expressed mRNA of Oct-4 and WT-1 as markers of omentum tissue. Differentiated rOT-MSCs in presence of 6 µg/ml liver extract expressed ALB, AFP, CK-18, glycogen and urea as specific markers of HCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These observations suggest that liver extract is potentially able to induce differentiation of MSCs into hepatocyte lineage and can be considered an available source for imposing tissue healing on the damaged liver.
authors: Department of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, North Branch of Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Samaneh Solati
authors: SS
authors: Sarvandi
authors: Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mohammad Taghi
authors: MT
authors: Joghataei
authors: Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Sciences and Researches branch of Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Kazem
authors: K
authors: Parivar
authors: Department of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, North Branch of Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Maryam
authors: M
authors: Khosravi
authors: Department of Anatomy, School of medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Arash
authors: A
authors: Sarveazad
authors: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Nima
authors: N
authors: Sanadgol
keywords: Hepatocyte; Liver extract; Mesenchymal stem cells; Omentum tissue