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World Journal of Gastroenterology logoLink to World Journal of Gastroenterology
. 2017 Oct 14;23(38):6973–6982. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i38.6973

Adipose-derived stromal cells resemble bone marrow stromal cells in hepatocyte differentiation potential in vitro and in vivo

Li-Juan Xu 1, Shu-Fang Wang 2, De-Qing Wang 3, Lian-Jun Ma 4, Zheng Chen 5, Qian-Qian Chen 6, Jun Wang 7, Li Yan 8
PMCID: PMC5658315  PMID: 29097870

Abstract

AIM

To investigate whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have similar hepatic differentiation potential.

METHODS

Mouse ADSCs and BMSCs were isolated and cultured. Their morphological and phenotypic characteristics, as well as their multiple differentiation capacity were compared. A new culture system was established to induce ADSCs and BMSCs into functional hepatocytes. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunofluorescence analyses were performed to identify the induced hepatocyte-like cells. CM-Dil-labeled ADSCs and BMSCs were then transplanted into a mouse model of CCl4-induced acute liver failure. Fluorescence microscopy was used to track the transplanted MSCs. Liver function was tested by an automatic biochemistry analyzer, and liver tissue histology was observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining.

RESULTS

ADSCs and BMSCs shared a similar morphology and multiple differentiation capacity, as well as a similar phenotype (with expression of CD29 and CD90 and no expression of CD11b or CD45). Morphologically, ADSCs and BMSCs became round and epithelioid following hepatic induction. These two cell types differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells with similar expression of albumin, cytokeratin 18, cytokeratin 19, alpha fetoprotein, and cytochrome P450. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that both ADSCs and BMSCs were observed in the mouse liver at different time points. Compared to the control group, both the function of the injured livers and HE staining showed significant improvement in the ADSC- and BMSC-transplanted mice. There was no significant difference between the two MSC groups.

CONCLUSION

ADSCs share a similar hepatic differentiation capacity and therapeutic effect with BMSCs in an acute liver failure model. ADSCs may represent an ideal seed cell type for cell transplantation or a bio-artificial liver support system.

Keywords: Adipose-derived stromal cells, Bone marrow stromal cells, Cell differentiation, Hepatocyte differentiation

Core tip: We investigated whether mesenchymal stem cells from adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), have similar hepatic differentiation potential. We found that adipose-derived stromal cells resemble bone marrow stromal cells in their hepatocyte differentiation potential in vitro and in vivo. Because ADSCs are obtained more easily and less invasive than BMSCs, ADSCs might be more suitable seed cells for cell transplant or liver tissue engineering. We also developed a new protocol of preparing mouse BMSCs and established a new hepatic induction system.

INTRODUCTION

Liver transplantation remains the only effective treatment for liver failure. However, its clinical application is limited by donor organs and immune rejection. To this end, hepatocyte transplantation and a bio-artificial liver support system are two potential surrogate complementary therapies for patients with liver failure. Hepatocyte-like cells can be induced from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for xenotransplantation and have been demonstrated to perform hepatocyte functions in preclinical animal studies[1,2]. However, the best type of MSC has not yet been investigated, and therefore it is important to screen for an ideal seed cell type for cell transplantation or a bio-artificial liver support system.

MSCs are non-hematopoietic multipotent stem cells that can be isolated from multiple tissues, such as bone marrow, adipose tissue, cord blood, and amniotic fluid[3-5]. Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) are the most extensively studied and fertile stem cell source used in regenerative medicine and liver tissue engineering[6,7]. More recently, adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) were identified as another promising and extensively studied stem cells for use, especially in liver tissue engineering[8]. Although both ADSCs and BMSCs can be induced into hepatocyte-like cells[9-12], there is no uniform culture system to evaluate their hepatic differentiation potential. Therefore, it is necessary to establish an ideal system to improve the efficiency of hepatic induction.

In this study, we developed a novel culture protocol for mouse BMSCs and optimized the hepatic differentiation system. We compared the morphological and phenotypic characteristics, as well as the multi-differentiation capacity of BMSCs and ADSCs in vitro. We also compared therapeutic effect of BMSCs and ADSCs following transplantation into a mouse model of acute liver failure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experimental animals

Male BALB/c mice (3 d old and 6 wk old; Charles River, Beijing, China) were purchased from the Laboratory Animal Center of the Academy of Military Medical Sciences of China (Beijing). All studies were conducted after approved by the Ethics Committee of the Animal Facility of Chinese PLA General Hospital and complied with the guidelines for the care of laboratory animals. Mice were housed in cages in a controlled environment (25 °C and a 12 h light/dark cycle) and fed standard mouse chow and tap water, and were observed every day in our animal facility.

Isolation and purification of adipose-derived stromal cells and bone marrow stromal cells

The isolation and purification of ADSCs were performed as previously described[13]. Fibrous tissue was excluded and adipose tissue was minced into pieces of < 1 mm3 and digested in 1 mg/mL collagenase I for 1 h at 37 °C. The cell suspension was filtered through a 100 µmol/L cell strainer and centrifuged at 300 × g for 5 min. ADSCs were plated at a density of 5 × 105/cm2 with alpha minimal essential medium (α-MEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1% penicillin/streptomycin, and cultured in a humidified incubator at 37 °C and 5% CO2. Cells were harvested after reaching a 90% confluence with 0.25% trypsin-EDTA (Gibco, American). Cells in passages 2-4 were used for subsequent experiments.

A new method was established to isolate mouse BMSCs as follows: 3-d-old male BALB/c mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and soaked in 75% alcohol for 5 min. The tibia and fibula were isolated under sterile conditions and washed twice with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing 5% penicillin/streptomycin. Muscle and fibrous tissue were excluded. Tibias and fibulas were minced into pieces of < 1 mm3 and washed once with α-MEM, cultured directly by incubation with α-MEM supplemented with 10% FBS and 1% penicillin/streptomycin in a humidified incubator at 37 °C and 5% CO2. After 72 h, half of the medium was changed and the bone chips were kept. After reaching a 50% confluence, cells were harvested with 0.25% trypsin-EDTA and seeded as the first passage. At each passage, cells were diluted 1:3-4 every two days. BMSCs at passages 2-4 were used for subsequent experiments.

Measurement of adipose-derived stromal cells and bone marrow stromal cells proliferation

For the cell proliferation assay, 2 × 103 viable ADSCs and BMSCs were seeded in triplicate onto a 96-well plate. Cell proliferation was measured using a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8; Beyotime, China). Plates were placed in a humidified incubator at 37 °C until the cells adhered to the plate. Next, 10 µL of the CCK-8 solution was added to each well and plates were incubated for another 2 h at 37 °C prior to reading the absorbance at 450 nm on a microplate reader. The assay was repeated every day at the same time for 10 d.

Flow cytometry

Passage 2 and 3 ADSCs and BMSCs were trypsinized and incubated with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated CD45 and CD90, and phycoerythrin-conjugated CD11b and CD29 antibodies for 30 min at 4 °C, followed by two washes with PBS. Fluorescent-labeled cells were analyzed on a flow cytometer.

Differentiation assays

For adipogenic differentiation, cells were seeded at 1 × 104/cm2 on 12-well plates. When cells adhered to the plate, the expansion medium (α-MEM supplemented with 10% FBS and 1% penicillin/streptomycin) was replaced with adipogenic induction medium containing 10−6 mmol/L dexamethasone (Dex), 0.5 µmol/L isobutylmethylxanthine, 200 µmol/L indomethacin, and 5 µg/mL (wt/v) insulin, and the cells were incubated for 8 d. Cells cultured in a base medium of α-MEM supplemented with 10% (v/v) FBS served as a negative control. Adipogenic differentiation was assessed by Oil-Red-O staining.

For osteogenic differentiation, cells were seeded at 5 × 103/cm2 on 12-well plates. When cells adhered to the plate, the expansion medium was replaced with osteogenic induction medium containing 10−7 mmol/L Dex, 10 mmol/L β-glycerol phosphate, and 50 µmol/L ascorbate-2-phosphate. Cells cultured in a base medium of α-MEM supplemented with 10% FBS were used as a negative control. Cells were incubated for 3 wk and osteogenic differentiation was assessed by Alizarin Red staining.

Hepatic differentiation was achieved following a one-step procedure using mouse ADSCs and BMSCs. ADSCs and BMSCs (passage 3) were seeded at 5 × 103/cm2 onto 24-well culture dishes in expansion medium. When cells adhered to the plate, the expansion medium was replaced with hepatocyte culture medium (HCM; DMEM containing 10% FBS) supplemented with 50 ng/mL hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), 25 ng/mL fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF4), 30 ng/mL oncostatin M (OSM), 20 ng/mL epidermal growth factor (EGF), 25 ng/mL acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), 10 ng/mL basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), 10-6 mmol/L Dex, 1 × insulin-transferrin-selenium (ITS), 2 mmol/L ascorbic acid (Vc), and 50 μmmol/L nicotinamide (Vpp). Differentiation medium (1 mL) was added to each 24-well culture dish and changed every 3 d. Afterwards, cells were cultured for 10 d in HCM. Undifferentiated cells served as negative controls and the HepG2 cell line served as a positive control.

Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction

On day 10 of hepatic differentiation, total RNA was isolated from ADSCs and BMSCs with Trizol reagent (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, United States), reverse-transcribed into first-strand cDNA using oligo (dT) primer, and amplified with 35 cycles (95 °C, 10 min; 58 °C, 1 min; and 72 °C, 5 min) of PCR using 10 pmmol/L of specific primers. Upon completion of the PCR, products were examined by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. Actin was used as an internal standard (30 cycles of amplification were performed). To compare the differences in expression levels of albumin (ALB), alpha fetoprotein (AFP), cytokeratin 18 (CK-18), CK-19, and glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) between undifferentiated and differentiated ADSCs and BMSCs, the products were quantified on an image analyzer (Uvitec, Warwickshire, United Kingdom). The primer sequences used are listed in Supplement Table 1.

Western blot analysis

Western blot analysis was performed as previously described[6]. In brief, total cellular proteins were prepared and quantified by the Bradford method. A total of 80 µg of lysates was electrophoresed by 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and blotted onto a nitrocellulose membrane (Immoblin-P, Millipore, Bedford, MA, United States). Membranes were blocked with 5% fat free milk powder at room temperature for 2 h and incubated overnight with polyclonal rabbit anti-mouse CYP1A1 or CK-19, goat anti-mouse ALB, AFP, or CK-18 (1:1000; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Dallas, TX, United States), or anti-β-actin antibody (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) at 4 °C overnight. After three washes of 15 min in Tris-buffered saline containing Tween 20 (TBST), the membranes were incubated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody, HRP-conjugated rabbit anti-goat IgG antibody (Zhongshan Jinqiao, Beijing, China), or goat anti-mouse IgG antibody for 2 h at room temperature. The membranes were washed again in TBST. Enhanced chemiluminescence reagent was added and monitored for color development.

Immunofluorescence

Cultured cells were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde (Sigma-Aldrich) for 30 min at room temperature, washed twice with PBS, and permeabilized with 1% Triton X-100 (Sigma-Aldrich) for 20 min at room temperature. Cells were then incubated with blocking solution consisting of PBS and 10% normal goat serum NGS at room temperature for 2 h. For immunofluorescence staining, primary antibodies (1:200; Santa Cruz Biotechnology) against ALB, AFP, CK-18, CK-19, or CYP1A1 were used. Following incubation with the primary antibodies overnight at 4 °C, cells were incubated with secondary antibodies for 2 h at 37 °C. Subsequently, cells were stained with 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) for 5 min at room temperature and photographed with a structured illumination fluorescence microscope.

Transplantation

Six-week-old BALB/c mice were used for the transplantation experiment. An acute liver failure model was established by administering one dose of CCl4. Mice received intraperitoneal injection of 100 μL/20 g body weight of olive oil containing 10 μL CCl4 24 h before MSC transplantation. On day 0, mice underwent MSC transplantation at a concentration of 1 × 106 cells per mouse (0.2 mL cell suspension was injected via the tail vein). As a control, PBS-transplanted CCl4-treated mice and non-transplanted olive oil-treated mice were used. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were measured on days 1, 2, 3, and 7 after transplantation. Liver tissue samples were harvested at the indicated time points after cell transplantation, fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde, embedded in paraffin, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). Frozen sections (8 μm thick) were used for fluorescence observations.

Statistical analysis

Data are presented as the mean ± SD. ALT and AST levels were analyzed by Student’s t test using SPSS software version 19.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, United States). Significance for all statistical analyses was defined as P < 0.05.

RESULTS

Cellular morphology of adipose-derived stromal cells and bone marrow stromal cells

Cells were observed under an inverted microscope. On the second day of primary culture, few ADSCs were observed. On the third day, the number of cells increased (the cell density was approximately 60%) and, on the fourth day, the cells exhibited a spiral-shaped structure and reached a 90% confluence. Cells were passaged at 1:3 (Supplement Figure 1A). On the second day of primary culture (BMSCs), few fibroblast-like cells had “climbed out” around the bone fragments. The number of cells increased over time and, on the fourth day, BMSCs reached a 50% confluence and were passaged at 1:1 (Supplement Figure 1A).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Morphological changes of adipose-derived stromal cells and bone marrow stromal cells following hepatic differentiation. After hepatic differentiation, the cellular morphology changed gradually and, on day 10 after differentiation, the induced cells were polygonal in shape. ADSCs: Adipose-derived stromal cells; BMSCs: Bone marrow stromal cells.

From passages 1-4, the two types of MSCs were long and spindle-shaped and showed no difference in morphology (Supplement Figure 1B).

Cell proliferation ability

The cell number of the second and third generations of the two cell types was determined over time and a growth curve was drawn. The two cell types showed active proliferative capacity, with an S-shaped growth curve. During the first three days, cells grew slowly. Between days 4 and 7, the two cell types grew rapidly and entered a logarithmic growth period. Cells stopped growing at day 8 and entered the growth plateau phase (Supplement Figure 1C). There was no significant difference between the two types of adult stem cells in the same generation, and there was no significant difference between the same kinds of adult stem cells in the different generation (Supplement Table 1).

Phenotypic characterization of adipose-derived stromal cells and bone marrow stromal cells

ADSC and BMSC cell surface markers were analyzed by flow cytometry. Both ADSCs and BMSCs expressed the stem cell-associated surface markers CD90 and CD29, but did not express CD11b or CD45 (Supplement Table 2). The two cell types had a similar proliferative ability and stem cell capacity, consistent with our previous study.

Multiple differentiation ability of adipose-derived stromal cells and bone marrow stromal cells

The adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs and BMSCs was evaluated at passages 2 and 3. Small and round vacuoles began to appear in the cytoplasm on the third day of induction. On the 8th day, a large number of lipid droplets appeared in the majority of the induced cells and the cells became round, oval, or polygonal. Adipogenic differentiation was identified by Oil-Red-O staining, which stained the lipid vacuoles bright red.

After three weeks of induction, cells aggregated in some areas and formed a multilayered, nodular structure known as a bone nodule. Osteogenic differentiation was identified by Alizarin Red staining, which stained the bone nodules red. Oil-Red-O and Alizarin Red images of such cells were shown in our previous study.

Hepatic differentiation of adipose-derived stromal cells and bone marrow stromal cells

Before differentiation, both ADSCs and BMSCs exhibited fibroblast morphology with spindle cell bodies. After differentiation, the cell morphology changed dramatically. On day 4 after hepatic differentiation, cells became round in shape. On day 7, the number of oval and polygonal cells increased, and on day 10, the induced cells exhibited a clear polygonal shape (Figure 1). The expression of several hepatic genes was examined after hepatic differentiation by RT-PCR. Uninduced cells served as a negative control. On day 10 after hepatic differentiation, the expression of ALB, AFP, CK-18, CK-19, and G-6-P was significantly enhanced (Figure 2A).

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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RT-PCR, western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining of hepatocyte-related markers following hepatic induction. A: Gene expression of albumin (ALB), alpha fetoprotein (AFP), cytokeratin 18 (CK-18), CK-19, and glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) was significantly enhanced in hepatocyte-like cells on day 10 following hepatic differentiation. Undifferentiated cells served as a negative control; B: Western blot analysis of hepatocyte-related markers in adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs), bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), and hepatocyte-like cells; C: Immunofluorescence staining of hepatocyte-related markers in ADSCs, BMSCs, and hepatocyte-like cells. On day 10 after differentiation, immunofluorescence staining revealed that the differentiated hepatocyte-like cells expressed the hepatocyte markers ALB, CK-19, CK-18, AFP and CYP1A1. Scale bar: 200 μm.

The expression of ALB, AFP, CYP1A1, and CK-18 in hepatocyte-like cells was confirmed by Western blot analysis (Figure 2B). The expression of ALB, AFP, CYP1A1, and CK-18 increased continuously in the two types of hepatocyte-like cells compared with undifferentiated ADSCs and BMSCs, suggesting that these two types of MSCs were successfully induced into hepatocyte-like cells in vitro.

On day 10 after differentiation, immunofluorescence staining showed that the differentiated hepatocyte-like cells expressed the hepatocyte markers ALB, CK-19, CK-18, AFP, and CYP1A1 (Figure 2C), whereas the undifferentiated ADSCs and BMSCs (Figure 2C) did not express the hepatocyte-related markers.

Transplanted cells were found in damaged livers

To investigate whether the CM-Dil-labeled MSCs localized to the injured liver, animals were sacrificed on days 1, 2, 3 and 7 following treatment. In the ADSC and BMSC groups, red fluorescent cells were detected in the injured livers. In addition, the largest number of cells was detected on day 3 after transplantation and gradually decreased on day 7 (Figure 3). These results suggest that cells transplanted via the intravenous route can be integrated in the liver parenchyma during the early stage of transplantation.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Tracing transplanted cells in a mouse model of acute liver failure. Red fluorescent cells were detected in the injured livers under fluorescence microscopy on days 1, 2, 3 and 7 following the transplantation. ADSCs: Adipose-derived stromal cells; BMSCs: Bone marrow stromal cells.

Both adipose-derived stromal cells and bone marrow stromal cells improved liver function

To address whether ADSCs and BMSCs can regenerate the injured mouse liver, these cell types were transplanted into liver-injured mice. Twenty-four hours after CCl4 injection, mice exhibited serious liver injury. Biochemical parameters, including ALT and AST, were measured and stem cells were transplanted. The therapeutic abilities of the two experimental groups were compared at different time points. Following transplantation, the ALT and AST levels of the experimental groups decreased significantly compared with the control group (Figure 4). HE staining revealed that the degree of injury was much weaker in the injured transplanted mice than in the injured, non-transplanted mice (Figure 5). On day 7, all of the experimental groups recovered histologically. However, damaged areas were still observed in the CCl4 group. These observations indicated that ADSCs and BMSCs possessed similar repairing abilities against CCl4-induced liver injury.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

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Analysis of liver function in CCl4-treated mice following mesenchymal stem cell transplantation. Comparison of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in the experimental and CCl4 groups. Hepatic function nearly recovered on day 7 (aP < 0.05 compared to the CCl4 group). ADSCs: Adipose-derived stromal cells; BMSCs: Bone marrow stromal cells.

Figure 5.

Figure 5

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Hematoxylin and eosin staining in CCl4-treated mice following mesenchymal stem cells transplantation. HE staining of liver tissue on different days following MSC transplantation (100 × magnification). The MSC groups showed smaller congested areas than the CCl4 group. ADSCs: Adipose-derived stromal cells; BMSCs: Bone marrow stromal cells; HE: Hematoxylin and eosin; MSC: Mesenchymal stem cells; Scale bar: 200 μm.

DISCUSSION

MSC transplantation is a promising alternative therapy for some liver diseases.

Availability of a large number of functional hepatocytes is essential for cytotherapy. However, primary hepatocyte cultures have been hindered by their short life span and the rapid loss of hepatic function in vitro[14]. MSCs have become a promising type of seed cell for liver transplantation for their multiple differentiation potential, high proliferation capacity, and plastic adherence properties. However, it is difficult to determine the ideal seed cells from different types of MSCs. In the present study, we established a novel isolation and culture protocol for mouse BMSCs that could provide a large number of BMSCs in a short period of time and share a similar multiple differentiation ability with ADSCs. We also established a new HCM that not only shortens the induction time but also produces a large number of hepatocyte-like cells. With the same induction system, ADSCs resembled BMSCs in term of hepatocyte differentiation potential both in vitro and in vivo.

A large quantity of ADSCs can be easily obtained by digesting adipose tissue derived from mice, rats, and humans with collagenase I[15]. However, it is difficult to obtain a large quantity of pure mouse BMSCs. We analyzed the conditioned medium method of Sun et al[16] and the compact bone method of Zhu et al[17], and developed a novel and reliable isolation and culture method that provides a large number of BMSCs in a short period of time. Compared to the method of Sun et al[16], the period required to obtain purified cells was shortened to 10-11 d. Compared to the method of Zhu et al[17], we omitted the digestion step of collagenase II. Additionally, the passage time was shortened to 2 d (compared to Zhu’s twice per week). Compared to the method for the isolation and culture of mouse BMSCs from bone marrow[18], our protocol not only shows less contamination of hematopoietic lineage cells, but also obtains a large number of BMSCs in a short period of time. The number of BMSCs obtained from five mice can reach 107 in 10-11 d. We believe that the reason for the rapid proliferation of cells is that neonatal mice exhibit better cell viability. Therefore, we developed a novel and easy method to isolate mouse BMSCs from tibia and fibula bone fragments.

Among the various hepatic differentiation systems, a one-step induction method has been most extensively applied[19]. Various cytokines and chemicals can be used to induce MSCs into hepatocyte-like cells. Current studies have reported that HGF, FGF4, EGF, OSM, Dex, aFGF, bFGF, DMSO, Vpp, and Vc can be applied for the hepatic differentiation of ADSCs[10,20]. Additionally, HGF, FGF4, EGF, OSM, Dex, ITS, trichostatin A (TSA), and L-glutamine have been applied for the hepatic differentiation of BMSCs[21-24]. In the present study, we used multiple factors, including HGF, FGF4, OSM, aFGF, bFGF, Dex, Vpp, ITS, and Vc, to develop a new induction system to promote the differentiation of MSCs. This hepatic induction system induced ADSCs and BMSCs into hepatocyte-like cells in only 10 d. However, a previously reported one-step induction system usually took more than two weeks[25-26]. This hepatic induction system shortens the induction time compared to the previously reported one-step system. Therefore, we consider it as an optimized one-step hepatic induction system.

We also identified induced hepatocyte-like cells from ADSCs and BMSCs in terms of morphology, as well as gene and protein expression. Our results revealed a similar hepatic differentiation potential of these two cell types in vitro. In vivo, we established an animal model of acute liver failure and proved that ADSCs and BMSCs engrafted into the injured liver showed similar therapeutic effects in the improvement of liver function. The results in our study suggest that BMSCs and ADSCs may serve as ideal seed cells for treating liver injury.

In conclusion, we developed a new protocol for the preparation of mouse BMSCs and established a new hepatic induction system. Our findings proved that ADSCs resembled BMSCs in the hepatic differentiation potential in vitro and in vivo. ADSCs can be obtained more easily and are less invasive than BMSCs. Therefore, ADSCs may be a more suitable seed cell type for use in cell transplantion or liver tissue engineering. In future experiments, we will explore the roles of ADSCs in liver tissue engineering.

COMMENTS

Background

Liver transplantation remains the only effective treatment for liver failure. However, its clinical application is limited by donor organs and immune rejection. To this end, hepatocyte transplantation and a bio-artificial liver support system are two potential surrogate complementary therapies for patients with liver failure. Hepatocyte-like cells can be induced from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for xenotransplantation and have been demonstrated to perform hepatocyte functions in preclinical animal studies. However, the best type of MSCs has not yet been investigated and therefore it is important to screen for an ideal seed cell type for use in cell transplantation or a bio-artificial liver support system.

Research frontiers

MSCs are non-hematopoietic multipotent stem cells that can be isolated from multiple tissues, such as bone marrow, adipose tissue, cord blood, and amniotic fluid. Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) are the most extensively studied and fertile stem cell source used in regenerative medicine and liver tissue engineering. More recently, adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) were identified as another promising and extensively studied stem cells for use, especially in liver tissue engineering. Although both ADSCs and BMSCs can be induced into hepatocyte-like cells, there is no uniform culture system to evaluate their hepatic differentiation potential. Therefore, it is necessary to establish an ideal system to improve the efficiency of hepatic induction.

Innovations and breakthroughs

A new protocol for the preparation of mouse BMSCs and a new hepatic induction system were established. This study proved that ADSCs resembled BMSCs in the hepatic differentiation potential in vitro and in vivo. ADSCs can be obtained more easily and are less invasive than BMSCs. Therefore, ADSCs may serve as a more suitable seed cell type for use in cell transplantion or liver tissue engineering.

Applications

ADSCs are likely to serve as suitable seed cells for use in cell transplantion or liver tissue engineering.

Terminology

MSC transplant is a promising alternative therapy for some liver diseases. Availability of large number of functional hepatocytes is essential for cytotherapy. Both ADSCs and BMSCs can be induced into hepatocyte-like cells. Therefore, both ADSCs and BMSCs may be suitable seed cells for use in cell transplantion or liver tissue engineering.

Peer-review

In this paper, the authors investigated a novel method of generating differentiated hepatocytes from two sources of mesenchymal stem cells and tested their ability to recover liver damage in an experimental mouse model. The paper thus adressed an important question as stem cell therapy could help overcome current limitations of treatment for metabolic liver diseases and liver injury.

Footnotes

Manuscript source: Unsolicited manuscript

Specialty type: Gastroenterology and hepatology

Country of origin: China

Peer-review report classification

Grade A (Excellent): 0

Grade B (Very good): 0

Grade C (Good): C

Grade D (Fair): 0

Grade E (Poor): 0

Institutional review board statement: The study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.

Institutional animal care and use committee statement: All experiments on animals were performed in accordance with the “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” (National Institutes of Health, 8th ed. 2011). All procedures involving animals were reviewed and approved by the Animal Care and Research Committee of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.

Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors declare no potential conflict of interest related to this paper.

Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.

Peer-review started: April 27, 2016

First decision: June 22, 2017

Article in press: September 5, 2017

P- Reviewer: Ocker M S- Editor: Wei LJ L- Editor: Ma JY

E- Editor: Ma YJ

Contributor Information

Li-Juan Xu, Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Geriatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.

Shu-Fang Wang, Department of Blood Transfusion, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.

De-Qing Wang, Department of Blood Transfusion, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.

Lian-Jun Ma, Department of Endoscopics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin Province, China.

Zheng Chen, Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Geriatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.

Qian-Qian Chen, Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Geriatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.

Jun Wang, Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China.

Li Yan, Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Geriatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China. yanlifmu@126.com.

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