The differentiation of human multipotent adult progenitor cells into hepatocyte-like cells induced by coculture with human hepatocyte line L02

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to establish an in vitro method to purify human multipotent adult progenitor cells (hMAPCs) and assess their possible differentiation into hepatocytes by coculture with human hepatocyte line L02. METHODS: hMAPCs were isolated by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) depletion selection using CD45 and GlyA microbeads. After indirect or direct coculture of hMAPCs and human hepatocyte line L02, the expression of albumin (ALB), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), cytokeratin (CK) 18, and CK19 by hMAPCs was detected by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: With the MACS method, (5-10) x 10(4)/mL hMAPCs could be separated from 1 x 10(6)/mL bone marrow mononuclear cells. The purity of CD45-/GlyA- cells separated from bone marrow adherent cells was more than 98%, as determined by flow cytometry. In the coculture without cell-to-cell contact, hMAPCs expressed high AFP on day 1, and then tapered daily to low expression on day 7; ALB expression reached its peak on day 5, and remained high on day 7; CK18 was initially expressed on day 5 and was higher on day 7; CK19 was negative in all assays. In the coculture with cell-to-cell contact, ALB and CK18 were expressed by most cells while AFP appeared in only a few on day 5. CONCLUSION: hMAPCs were induced to differentiate into mature hepatocyte-like cells by coculture with a hepatocyte cell line, either with or without cell-to-cell contact, but the former seemed more effective.

Establishment and characterization of a human gallbladder carcinoma cell line EH-GB1 originated from a metastatic tumor / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a human gallbladder carcinoma cell line derived from a metastatic gallbladder carcinoma and identify its biological characteristics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Tissue samples were separated from the surgical specimen obtained from a patient with metastatic carcinoma and single-cell suspension was prepared. Then the cells were cultured in DMEM medium supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum. The morphology of tumor cells was observed under an electron microscope. The cell growth curve was plotted. The tumorigenicity of the cell line was studied by subcutaneous inoculation in SCID mice. The cells were infected by lentiviral vector carrying fluorescent report genes (lenti-GFP and lenti-Red2) separately for expressions of GFP and Red2, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A novel metastatic gallbladder carcinoma cell line was successfully established and named "EH-GB1". It could be passaged for over 20 generations with typical malignant epithelial morphology and a stable growth cycle of 24 h. Tumors were formed in all of the 10 SCID mice inoculated with EH-GB1 cells subcutaneously, and the tumor cells were tumor marker CA19-9-positive. Continuous expressions of fluorescent report genes were observed in EH-GB1 cells infected by lenti-GFP and lenti-Red2.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EH-GB1 cells might be the first stable cell line of human gallbladder carcinoma established from a metastatic focus of gallbladder carcinoma. This cell line with continuous expressions of GFP and Red2 might be a novel and perfect experimental model for clinical and basic research on gallbladder carcinoma.</p>