Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026
09:05
In Vitro Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Functional Cardiomyocyte-like Cells
Published on: August 9, 2017
Differentiative potential of human metanephric mesenchymal cells
Graça Almeida-Porada1, Deena El Shabrawy, Christopher Porada
1Department of Animal Biotechnology, University of Nevada-Reno, Mail Stop 202, Reno, NV 89557-0104, USA. almei_g@med.unr.edu
Experimental Hematology
|December 17, 2002
Summary
Mesenchymal cells from human fetal kidneys can form blood and liver cells. These findings suggest mesenchymal cells are versatile stem cells with potential in multiple organs.
Area of Science:
- Stem Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Mesenchymal cells, originating from the mesoderm, are crucial for tissue development.
- Investigating the differentiation potential of nonhematopoietic mesenchymal cells is key to understanding stem cell plasticity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the capacity of mesenchymal cells from human fetal kidney to differentiate into hematopoietic and hepatic lineages.
- To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo potential of these mesenchymal cells as stem cells.
Main Methods:
- Human fetal kidney-derived mesenchymal cells (MNMC) were isolated and characterized.
- Cells were transplanted into sheep fetuses, with analysis using flow cytometry, PCR, and immunohistochemistry.
- Secondary transplantation studies were conducted using derived hematopoietic cells.
Main Results:
- MNMC exhibited a phenotype consistent with metanephric mesenchyme.
- Transplanted cells demonstrated multilineage hematopoietic engraftment and produced hepatocyte-like cells in vivo.
- Successful secondary transplantation confirmed the generation of long-term engrafting hematopoietic stem cells.
Conclusions:
- Human metanephric mesenchymal cells can differentiate into both blood and liver lineages.
- This suggests mesenchymal cells from nonhematopoietic organs possess broad stem cell potential.
- Mesenchymal cells may represent a versatile population of stem cells applicable across multiple adult organs.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can differentiate into most connective tissue cell types, except for hematopoietic cells, depending upon the source of MSCs. For example, bone-marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into osteocytes, hepatocytes, and pancreatic and neuronal cells. MSCs can be isolated from various sources such as bone marrow, placenta, adipose tissue, teeth, and Wharton’s jelly, a gelatinous substance in the umbilical cord. The ease of their access...
01:28Forced Transdifferentiation
Transdifferentiation, also known as lineage reprogramming, was first discovered by Selman and Kafatos in 1974 in silkmoths. They observed that the moths’ cuticle-producing cells transformed into salt-producing cells. Many such cases of natural transdifferentiation occur in organisms. In humans, pancreatic alpha cells can become beta cells. In newts, the loss of the eye’s lens causes the pigmented epithelial cells to transdifferentiate into the lens cells.
Artificial transdifferentiation occurs...
Artificial transdifferentiation occurs...