Derivation, characterization and differentiation in vitro of hepatic oval cells of adult rats / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To establish a proliferating model of hepatic oval cells (HOCs) with adult Wistar rats, isolate and culture in vitro the HOCs, and to approach the possibility of inducing the HOCs differentiated into hepatocytes. Methods Rats were fed with 0.07% wt/wt ethionine. On day 8, 2/3 partial hepatectomy (2/3 PH) was performed. Isolate, harvest and purify HOCs by type Ⅳ collagenase perfusion with semi in situ 2-step method and Percoll density gradient method. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were added to complete Williams' medium E (WE) to culture the HOCs. HOCs was induced differentiation with HGF, oncostatin m (OSM) and fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF4) into hepatocytes. Results The concentration of cell after purification was about 1.34?105/ml. Most cells were small, about 1/6~1/3 the size of normal hepatocyte. Ovoid, elliptical or polygonal in shap, the nucleus-cytoplasm ratio was relatively large, and clone-like proliferation appeared 2 weeks later. LSCM revealed positive expression of Thy-1 and C-kit in cytoplasm and membrane of HOCs. ICC showed AFP in cytoplasm of HOCs. Stimulated by inducing system, the shape of HOCs changed gradually. The volume enlarged and cells lost their adherence ability. ICC indicated apparent positive stain of cytoplasm Alb 14 days after differentiated induction, and the positive ratio increased along with the extension of induction duration. Cytochemical tests indicated brown or black sediment with G-6-P staining and red particles with PAS staining, respectively. Conclusion The proliferation model of rats' HOCs was established after ethionine feeding and 2/3 PH. HOCs can be obtained with type IV collagenase perfusion and Percoll density gradient isolation and purification. Clone proliferation can be achieved through culturing HOCs in vitro. Under certain conditions, HOCs can be induced and differentiated into certain typical hepatocyte phenotype.