BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests that adipose tissue contains mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) that possess the ability to transdifferentiate into other cell types including hepatocytes, similar to bone marrow-derived stem cells. The existence of precommitted cells in the MSC population may explain transdifferentiation. AIMS: Our aim was to identify a population of putative hepatocyte-like precursor cells in human adipose tissue. METHODS: We analysed the 'basal' hepatic potential of undifferentiated, naïve human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADMSC). hADMSC were isolated from human adipose tissue and characterized for cell surface markers and for liver-specific gene expression. RESULTS: The isolated undifferentiated naïve hADMSCs expressed MSC surface markers. They also expressed alpha-fetoprotein, CK18, CK19 and HNF4, which are known as early liver expressing genes. Interestingly, the undifferentiated naïve hADMSC were also positive for albumin, G-6-P and alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), which are all known to be predominantly expressed in adult liver cells. These cells acquired a hepatocyte-specific phenotype and function upon treatment with a differentiation medium, resulting in the upregulation of albumin, G-6-P and AAT. Moreover, urea production, glycogen storage ability and cellular uptake of indocyanine green, which were absent in the basal state, were evident in the treated cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest the presence of cells with hepatocyte-like properties that are isolated from human adipose tissue and that can readily acquire hepatocyte-like functions. Adipose tissue could thus be an exciting alternative means for repopulating the liver after various injuries, and might serve as a source for the transplantation of liver cells.
BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests that adipose tissue contains mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) that possess the ability to transdifferentiate into other cell types including hepatocytes, similar to bone marrow-derived stem cells. The existence of precommitted cells in the MSC population may explain transdifferentiation. AIMS: Our aim was to identify a population of putative hepatocyte-like precursor cells in human adipose tissue. METHODS: We analysed the 'basal' hepatic potential of undifferentiated, naïve human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADMSC). hADMSC were isolated from human adipose tissue and characterized for cell surface markers and for liver-specific gene expression. RESULTS: The isolated undifferentiated naïve hADMSCs expressed MSC surface markers. They also expressed alpha-fetoprotein, CK18, CK19 and HNF4, which are known as early liver expressing genes. Interestingly, the undifferentiated naïve hADMSC were also positive for albumin, G-6-P and alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), which are all known to be predominantly expressed in adult liver cells. These cells acquired a hepatocyte-specific phenotype and function upon treatment with a differentiation medium, resulting in the upregulation of albumin, G-6-P and AAT. Moreover, urea production, glycogen storage ability and cellular uptake of indocyanine green, which were absent in the basal state, were evident in the treated cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest the presence of cells with hepatocyte-like properties that are isolated from human adipose tissue and that can readily acquire hepatocyte-like functions. Adipose tissue could thus be an exciting alternative means for repopulating the liver after various injuries, and might serve as a source for the transplantation of liver cells.
Authors: Karen Bieback; Patrick Wuchter; Daniel Besser; Werner Franke; Matthias Becker; Michael Ott; Martin Pacher; Nan Ma; Christof Stamm; Harald Klüter; Albrecht Müller; Anthony D Ho Journal: J Mol Med (Berl) Date: 2012-05-31 Impact factor: 4.599
Authors: Kevin Ni; Muhammad Umair Mukhtar Mian; Catherine Meador; Amar Gill; Daria Barwinska; Danting Cao; Matthew J Justice; Di Jiang; Niccolette Schaefer; Kelly S Schweitzer; Hong Wei Chu; Keith L March; Irina Petrache Journal: Stem Cells Dev Date: 2017-09-21 Impact factor: 3.272