Functional comparison of human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells as sources of hepatocyte-like cells.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Jeong, Jaemin Kim, Kyu Nam Chung, Min Sung Kim, Han Joon
Abstract	Pluripotent stem cells can differentiate into many cell types including mature hepatocytes, and can be used in the development of new drugs, treatment of diseases, and in basic research. In this study, we established a protocol leading to efficient hepatic differentiation, and compared the capacity to differentiate into the hepatocyte lineage of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Optimal combinations of cytokines and growth factors were added to embryoid bodies produced by both types of cell. Differentiation of the cells was assessed with optical and electron microscopes, and hepatic-specific transcripts and proteins were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry, respectively. Both types of embryoid body produced polygonal hepatocyte-like cells accompanied by time-dependent up regulation of genes for α-fetoprotein, albumin (ALB), asialoglycoprotein1, CK8, CK18, CK19, CYP1A2, and CYP3A4, which are expressed in fetal and adult hepatocytes. Both types of cell displayed functions characteristic of mature hepatocytes such as accumulation of glycogen, secretion of ALB, and uptake of indocyanine green. And these cells are transplanted into mouse model. Our findings indicate that hESCs and hiPSCs have similar abilities to differentiate into hepatocyte in vitro using the protocol developed here, and these cells are transplantable into damaged liver. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at 10.1007/s13770-016-0094-y and is accessible for authorized users.
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC6170874&blobtype=pdf
ISSN	17382696
Volume Number	13
DOI	10.1007/s13770-016-0094-y
PubMed Central reference number	PMC6170874
Issue Number	6
PubMed reference number	30603455
Journal	Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine [Tissue Eng Regen Med]
e-ISSN	22125469
Language	English
Publisher	Korean Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Society
Publisher Date	2016-12-17
Publisher Place	Seoul
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	© The Korean Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Society and Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016
Subject Keyword	Hepatocyte differentiation Hepatocyte-like cells Human embryonic stem cells Human induced pluripotent stem cells
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Medicine Biomedical Engineering