Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Reports have addressed that induction of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into hepatocyte-like cells in rats, mice and human. Alpha fetoprotein and albumin are specific markers of hepatocyte line.
OBJECTIVE: To verify induction effects of hepatocyte growth factor on differentiation of BMSCs.
METHODS: Human BMSCs were isolated and purified by density gradient centrifugation and adherent culture. BMSCs were cultured in low glucose-DMEM containing 20 μg/L hepatocyte growth factor and 10 μg/L basic fibroblast growth factor in vitro. The same passage of cells in the control group was selected and cultured in routine medium. The expression of alpha-fetoprotein and albumin was detected by immunohistochemistry at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. The expression of albumin mRNA was detected by RT-PCR.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: BMSCs became epithelia-shaped cells in the induction group. Alpha fetoprotein-positive rate was 81.5% at day 7 in the induction group. With prolonged time, alpha fetoprotein-positive expression became weak, whereas albumin-positive rate and albumin mRNA expression became strong. Albumin-positive expression rate was 91.2% by 28 days. In the control group, no albumin, albumin mRNA and alpha fetoprotein expression was determined. Results have verified that hepatocyte growth factor can induce BMSCs expressing alpha fetoprotein and albumin.