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Enhanced Functions of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-derived Hepatocyte-like Cells on Three-dimensional Nanofibrillar Surfaces

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An Author Correction to this article was published on 18 June 2021

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Abstract

Human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived hepatocytes provide a promising unlimited resource for the treatment of liver disease. However, current protocols for the generation of mature and functional hepatocytes are inefficient. Therefore, in order to better differentiate and maintain the function of differentiating hESCs, we have hypothesized that hESCs undergo better differentiation into hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) when induced on three-dimensional nanofibrillar surfaces. We have demonstrated that, during stepwise differentiation of induction, the markers of hepatic lineage expressed and finally lead to the generation of functional mature cells. In the presence of an ultraweb nanofiber, HLCs produced lower AFP, greater urea, glycogen storage, metabolic PROD activity, uptake of LDL and organic anion ICG, all of which are indicative of the differentiation of HLCs. These results show that topographically treated hESCs at the nano level have a distinct hepatic functionality profile which has implications for cell therapies.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge Mehdi Pirouz, Mohammad Pakzad, and Abbas Piryaei for their critical comments and technical support. This study was funded by a grant from Royan Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, P.O. Box 19395-4644, Tehran, Iran

    Zahra Farzaneh, Behshad Pournasr, Marzeih Ebrahimi, Nasser Aghdami & Hossein Baharvand

  2. Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

    Zahra Farzaneh & Hossein Baharvand

  3. Department of Regenerative Medicine, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

    Marzeih Ebrahimi, Nasser Aghdami & Hossein Baharvand

Authors
  1. Zahra Farzaneh
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  2. Behshad Pournasr
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  3. Marzeih Ebrahimi
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  4. Nasser Aghdami
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  5. Hossein Baharvand
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Correspondence to Hossein Baharvand.

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The authors indicate no potential conflicts of interest.

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Table 1

Primer sequences and condition of PCR (DOC 43 kb)

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Farzaneh, Z., Pournasr, B., Ebrahimi, M. et al. Enhanced Functions of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-derived Hepatocyte-like Cells on Three-dimensional Nanofibrillar Surfaces. Stem Cell Rev and Rep 6, 601–610 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12015-010-9179-5

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