Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Many studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells have the potential to differentiate into hepatocytes, which will not only provide seed cell source for hepatocellular transplantation, bioartificial liver and hepatic tissue engineering, but also open breakthrough therapies in acute liver failure, end-stage liver disease and genetic metabolic liver disease.
OBJECTIVE: To induce human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells in vitro, to observe morphological and functional changes respectively.
METHODS: The logarithmic phase of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells of P3 was cultured at the density of 1×109/L in culture flasks containing DMEM/F12 with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). The cells were divided into 3 groups: group 1 treated with DMEM/F12 medium, containing 10% FBS, 20 μg/L hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), 10 μg/L basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), group 2 treated with DMEM/F12 medium, containing 10% FBS, 20 μg/L HGF, 10 μg/L bFGF, 20 μg/L oncostatin, blank control group treated without growth factor. The medium was changed 2-3 times a week according to cell growth. The cell morphology was observed at 7, 14, 18 days following culture under an inverted microscope. Expressions of alpha fetoprotein, albumin and cytokeratin18 were examined by immunocytochemistry. The glycogen deposits were examined by periodic acid-Schiff method.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells could be differentiated into heaptocyte-like cells by DMEM/F12 medium supplemented with 10% FBS, 20 μg/L HGF, 10 μg/L bFGF and 20 μg/L oncostatin. The induced efficiency was more than by DMEM/F12 medium supplemented with 10% FBS, 20 μg/L HGF, 10 μg/L bFGF.