Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are an important source of hepatocytes. BMSCs can differentiate into hepatocytes under the induction of multiple cytokines and growth factors, and participate in repair and reconstruction of liver function.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of interleukin 6 on the differentiation of BMSCs into hepatocytes.
METHODS: BMSCs were isolated from Kunming male mice and cultured by attachment method and treated with interleukin 6 (2.5, 5, 10, 20 µg/L) in HEPATOZYME-SFM nutrient solution to induce the BMSCs differentiation into hepatocytes. On days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28 after induction, the expressions of cytokeratin 18, alpha-fetoprotein and glycogen were identified by immunohistochemical method and periodic acid-schiff. The contents of albumin and nitric oxide in the liquid supernatant were identified by ELISA and nitrate reductase method, respectively.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Interleukin 6 resulted in dose-dependent (2.5, 5, 10 µg/L) and time-dependent increase in the expressions of cytokeratin 18 and glycogen and the content of albumin. The expression of alpha-fetoprotein increased then decreased to disappearance on day 21. The above effects of interleukin 6 (20 µg/L) was weaker than that of interleukin 6 (10 µg/L). The content of small amount nitric oxide was detected when interleukin 6 was 10 µg/L on day 28. These demonstrated that interleukin 6 is able to induce the differentiation of BMSCs into hepatocyte-like cells, which shows strongest effects at 10 µg/L. Increased mass concentration showed decreased induction effects.