Long Term Liver Engraftment of Functional Hepatocytes Obtained from Germline Cell-Derived Pluripotent Stem Cells

PLoS One. 2015 Aug 31;10(8):e0136762. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136762. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

One of the major hurdles in liver gene and cell therapy is availability of ex vivo-expanded hepatocytes. Pluripotent stem cells are an attractive alternative. Here, we show that hepatocyte precursors can be isolated from male germline cell-derived pluripotent stem cells (GPSCs) using the hepatoblast marker, Liv2, and induced to differentiate into hepatocytes in vitro. These cells expressed hepatic-specific genes and were functional as demonstrated by their ability to secrete albumin and produce urea. When transplanted in the liver parenchyma of partially hepatectomised mice, Liv2-sorted cells showed regional and heterogeneous engraftment in the injected lobe. Moreover, approximately 50% of Y chromosome-positive, GPSC-derived cells were found in the female livers, in the region of engraftment, even one month after cell injection. This is the first study showing that Liv2-sorted GPSCs-derived hepatocytes can undergo long lasting engraftment in the mouse liver. Thus, GPSCs might offer promise for regenerative medicine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Albumins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Separation
  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Genetic Therapy*
  • Germ Cells / cytology
  • Hepatectomy
  • Hepatocytes / cytology*
  • Hepatocytes / transplantation*
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Liver / physiology
  • Liver / surgery
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Urea / metabolism

Substances

  • Albumins
  • Biomarkers
  • Urea

Grants and funding

This study was funded by PRIN (Progetti di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale) to FA (Grant number: 2010B5B2NL_003). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.