BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatocyte-like cells can be derived from pluripotent stem cells such as embryonic stem (ES) cells, but ES cell-derived hepatic cells with extensive capacity to repopulate liver have not been identified. We aimed to identify and purify ES cell-derived hepatoblast-like progenitor cells and to explore their capacity for liver repopulation in mice after in vitro expansion. METHODS: Unmanipulated mouse ES cells were cultured under defined conditions and allowed to undergo stepwise hepatic differentiation. The derived hepatic cells were examined by morphologic, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, gene expression, and clonal expansion analyses. The capacities of ES cell-derived hepatic progenitor cells to repopulate liver were investigated in mice that were deficient in fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (Fah) (a model of liver injury). RESULTS: Mouse ES cells were induced to differentiate into a population that contained hepatic progenitor cells; this population included cells that expressed epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) but did not express c-Kit. Clonal hepatic progenitors that arose from single c-Kit(-)EpCAM(+) cells could undergo long-term expansion and maintain hepatoblast-like characteristics. Enriched c-Kit(-)EpCAM(+) cells and clonally expanded hepatic progenitor cells repopulated the livers of Fah-deficient mice without inducing tumorigenesis. CONCLUSIONS: ES cell-derived c-Kit(-)EpCAM(+) cells contain a population of hepatoblast-like progenitor cells that can repopulate livers of mice.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatocyte-like cells can be derived from pluripotent stem cells such as embryonic stem (ES) cells, but ES cell-derived hepatic cells with extensive capacity to repopulate liver have not been identified. We aimed to identify and purify ES cell-derived hepatoblast-like progenitor cells and to explore their capacity for liver repopulation in mice after in vitro expansion. METHODS: Unmanipulated mouse ES cells were cultured under defined conditions and allowed to undergo stepwise hepatic differentiation. The derived hepatic cells were examined by morphologic, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, gene expression, and clonal expansion analyses. The capacities of ES cell-derived hepatic progenitor cells to repopulate liver were investigated in mice that were deficient in fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (Fah) (a model of liver injury). RESULTS:Mouse ES cells were induced to differentiate into a population that contained hepatic progenitor cells; this population included cells that expressed epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) but did not express c-Kit. Clonal hepatic progenitors that arose from single c-Kit(-)EpCAM(+) cells could undergo long-term expansion and maintain hepatoblast-like characteristics. Enriched c-Kit(-)EpCAM(+) cells and clonally expanded hepatic progenitor cells repopulated the livers of Fah-deficientmice without inducing tumorigenesis. CONCLUSIONS: ES cell-derived c-Kit(-)EpCAM(+) cells contain a population of hepatoblast-like progenitor cells that can repopulate livers of mice.
Authors: Shichang Zhang; Li Chen; Tao Liu; Bo Zhang; Dedong Xiang; Zhengguo Wang; Yingjie Wang Journal: Tissue Eng Part A Date: 2012-06-05 Impact factor: 3.845
Authors: Atsushi Takai; Hien Dang; Naoki Oishi; Subreen Khatib; Sean P Martin; Dana A Dominguez; Ji Luo; Rachel Bagni; Xiaolin Wu; Katie Powell; Qing-Hai Ye; Hu-Liang Jia; Lun-Xiu Qin; Jinqiu Chen; Gary A Mitchell; Xiaoling Luo; Snorri S Thorgeirsson; Xin Wei Wang Journal: Cancer Res Date: 2019-03-12 Impact factor: 12.701