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

  • Original Article
  • Cell Biology
  • Published:
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Aims and scope

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Jaemin Jeong, Min Sung Chung & Han Joon Kim

  2. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Kyu Nam Kim

  3. Department of Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Korea

    Min Sung Chung & Han Joon Kim

Authors
  1. Jaemin Jeong
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  2. Kyu Nam Kim
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  3. Min Sung Chung
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  4. Han Joon Kim
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Correspondence to Min Sung Chung or Han Joon Kim.

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These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Jeong, J., Kim, K.N., Chung, M.S. et al. Functional comparison of human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells as sources of hepatocyte-like cells. Tissue Eng Regen Med 13, 740–749 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-016-0094-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-016-0094-y

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