ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the characteristics of phase II metabolic enzymes in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived liver tissue.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mature hepatocytes were differentiated from embryonic stem cells in cultured mouse embryoid bodies (EB) at d18. Western blot was used to detect the expression of uridine 5'-diphosphate glucronosyl transferase (UGT1a1,UGT1a6) and microsomal glutathione S-transferases 1(mGST1) during the differentiation course.The derived liver tissue was incubated with UDPGA and 7-HFC,the formation of 7-HFC glucuronide was detected by HPLC to examine the total activities of UGT1a1 and UGT1a6. Furthermore, the microsomes were incubated with CDNB and GSH,and the mGST1 activity was measured by spectrometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>An increase tendency of UGT1a1 expression was noticed during the differentiation course. UGT1a6 and mGST1 were not detected in the earlier stage until d18 of differentiation. The metabolic activity of mGST1 in the derived hepatocytes was 7.65 nmol/min/mg on d18.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The ES cell-derived liver tissue possesses partial metabolic function of phase II enzymes on d18 of differentiation,which might be used as a model for in vitro research on hepatic pathophysiology and phase II drug metabolism.</p>