title: Production of hepatocyte-like cells from human umbilical vein mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: The human umbilical vein, as a readily available stem cell source, is a good alternative to harvest mesenchymal stem cells. Human umbilical cord vein mesenchymal stem cells have recently been isolated and have demonstrated the ability to differentiate into various cell types such as fat, bone, cartilage and neuronal cells. In this study, we have investigated whether human umbilical cord vein mesenchymal stem cells are also able to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells. Hepatic differentiation was performed with a 2-step protocol and the use of hepatocyte growth factor and oncostatin M for cell culture. During four weeks of induction, most cells displayed a cuboidal morphology. Immunological analysis indicated that umbilical cord vein mesenchymal stem cells-derived hepatocyte-like cells expressed liver-specific protein markers such as albumin and cytokeratin-18. The hepatocyte-like cells also displayed several characteristics of hepatocytes, including expression of transthyretin, glucose 6-phosphatase, cytokeratin-8,18, alpha-fetoprotein, hepatocyte nuclear factor-3β and albumin. The result of indocyanine green cell uptake, as a test substance to evaluate hepatocyte-like cell function, was positive for differentiated cells. Glycogen storage was examined by periodic acid-Schiff staining. Accumulation of intracellular glycogen was detected in the hepatocyte-like cells. Based on these observations, we have concluded that umbilical cord vein mesenchymal stem cells are endowed with hepatogenic potential and may provide a stem cell source to be used as cell therapy for liver diseases.
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raoufil
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aminil
authors.forename: Mehri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azadbakht
authors.forename: Fariha
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farhadifar
authors.forename: Nikhn Frrfin
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Rahram Nikhn Frrfin Fthi
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D053538:Keratin-18 / Q000378:metabolism; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D010503:Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human
chemical_list: C422455:ALB protein, human; D015415:Biomarkers; D053538:Keratin-18; D012709:Serum Albumin; D006003:Glycogen; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human