Table 1.

Summarizing studies that used growth factor and cytokines for differentiating MSCs into HLCs

MSC source	Cytokines and growth factors used for hepatic differentiation	Estimated properties of differentiated HLCs	References
AT-MSCs	HGF, FGF-1, FGF-4	Produce ALB, uptake low-density lipoprotein and ammonia detoxification, could incorporate in the parenchyma of the mouse liver after transplantation	[16]
AT-MSC	Using Dexa, ascorbic acid, EGF, bFGF, and HGF	Gene expression analysis, functional assays, and transplantation into mouse with chronic liver injury	[17]
AT-MSC	FGF, EGF, HGF, OSM, Dexa, and TSA	Hepatocyte-specific markers (ALB and AFP), bioactivity assays (LDL uptake and glycogen storage)	[18]
UC-MSCs	Sequential exposure to EGF, bFGF, bFGF-HGF, and finally OSM	Analyzed HLCs by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometry, and immunocytochemical assays	[19]
UC-MSCs	Sequential exposure to TSA or DMSO	Morphology and protein expression, urea synthesis, ammonia concentration	[20]
UC-MSCs	One-step protocol by using HGF and FGF-4	ALB, AFP, and CK-18, LDL uptake, and glycogen storage	[21]
UC-MSCs	Emphasizing on the critical role of OSM	Function of differentiated cell by PAS staining and LDL uptake was examined. The protein expressions of TP, ALB, GLB, BUN, and AFP were also detected	[22]
UCB-MSCs	HGF and FGF-4	Urea production and protein secretion and production of AFP and ALB	[2]
umbilical cord vein MSCs	Two-step protocol that contained HGF and OSM	Liver-specific protein markers such as ALB and CK-18 and expression of transthyretin, glucose 6-phosphatase, CK-18,18, AFP, hepatocyte nuclear factor-3β and ALB, indocyanine green cell uptake, glycogen storage	[23]
F-MSCs	HGF, bFGF, and OSM	Measured the expression of hepatocyte-specific markers such as AFP and CK-18	[24]
BM-MSCs	FGF-4, HGF, and combination of HGF-ITS-Dexa, and TSA	Glycogen storage and CK-18 expression, HNF-3beta, AFP, CK18, ALB, HNF1α, MRP2 and C/EBPα, ALB secretion, urea production and P450 (CYP)-dependent activity	[25]