TITLE:
Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Hepatocyte-Like Cells by Autologous Serum after Radiofrequency Ablation of Liver Tumor
AUTHORS:
Yi Yang, Xi Chen, Tao Wu, Xin Xu, Gang Cao, Hua Li, Yiming Li
KEYWORDS:
Autologous Serum, Hepatocyte-Like Cell, Liver Tumor, Mesenchymal Stem Cell, Radiofrequency Ablation
JOURNAL NAME:
Stem Cell Discovery,
Vol.4 No.4,
September
16,
2014
ABSTRACT: Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) have been shown to
differentiate into liver cells in serum of part-resection liver, but it was
hardly feasible in clinical use. Our studies revealed that MSCs could
differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in autologous serum after
radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy of the liver tumor. Rabbits with liver
tumor subsequently treated with RFA therapy. Serum was collected from those
rabbits before RFA therapy and 72 hours after RFA therapy. MSCs were isolated
from each rabbit’s bone marrow and cultured in DMEM medium containing the
following different supplements: 30% fetal calf serum (FCS group), 30% rabbit
autologous serum (AS group) or 30% autologous serum after RFA treatment of the
liver tumor (ASRF group), observed by electron microscopy, flow cytometry,
immunofluorescence. Seven days later, most of the spindle-shaped MSCs in the
ASRF group transformed into polygon or round-shaped cells resembling
hepatocytes, and the percentage in S/G2/M phase was higher than in the FCS or
AS groups. Fourteen days later, slender microvilli, cell-cell junction
structures and cholangiole emerged in the cells belonging to the ASRF group, the
expression of albumin and CK18 was observed only in the differentiated cells
from the ASRF group. These changes were not observed in the FCS group or the AS
group. This study may provide a potential cell source and culture process for
clinical application in liver injury treatment.