Evaluation of the differentiation potential of WB-F344 rat liver epithelial stem-like cells in vivo. Differentiation to hepatocytes after transplantation into dipeptidylpeptidase-IV-deficient rat liver.

摘要: After intrahepatic transplantation into livers of adult syngeneic German-strain Fischer 344 rats that are deficient for the bile canalicular enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), cultured WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells (without exogenous marker genes) integrate hepatic plates and differentiate hepatocyte-like morphologically functionally indistinguishable from mature hepatocytes. In this model system, differentiated progeny transplanted identified among DPP-IV-negative host hepatocytes by their expression DPP-IV activity. DPP-IV-positive also expressed other markers hepatocytic differentiation, including albumin, transferrin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, suggesting express a complete hepatocyte differentiation program. These results complement our previous studies indicating can serve as stem-like precursor strengthen suggestion represent counterpart progenitor present in normal liver.