Comparison of the liver function and hepatic specific genes expression in cultured mesenchymal stem cells and hepatocytes

Abstract

Objective(s): <br/><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: xx-small;">Stem cell therapy is believed to be as a promising treatment strategy for tissue repair and regeneration. The plasticity specification of the adult stem cells, such as MSCs, has enabled that these cells to be used in the treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases like liver disorders. In this study, the production of urea and Albumin (Alb), glycogen storage, and expression of some liver </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: xx-small;" lang="JA"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: xx-small;" lang="JA">genes including α</span></span> <br/><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: xx-small;">-fetoprotein (AFP), Alb, cytokeratin18 (CK18) and cytokeratin19 (CK19) was compared between mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and isolated rat hepatocytes.</span> <br/> Materials and Methods: <br/><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: xx-small;" lang="JA"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: xx-small;" lang="JA">The MSCs were isolated from rat femurs and tibias and cultured in α</span></span> <br/><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: xx-small;">-MEM, DMEM and RPMI mediums supplemented with serum. Hepatocytes were isolated from Rat livers and cultured in DMEM with serum. The expression of AFP, Alb, CK18, and CK19 genes was evaluated using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Furthermore, the synthesis of albumin and urea of the cells was measured</span> <br/> Results: <br/> <span style="font-family: Cambria,Italic; font-size: xx-small;"><em><span style="font-family: Cambria,Italic; font-size: xx-small;">In vitro </span></em></span> <br/><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: xx-small;">conditions, MSCs and hepatocytes exhibited the characteristic functions of the liver such as capacity to synthesize Alb, urea, the storage of glycogen. In this study, the expression of some liver genes such as AFP, Alb, CK18 and CK19 at mRNA levels was also shown.</span> <br/> <br/>