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Related Experiment Videos

Characterization of cells in the developing human liver.

Silvia Nava1, Magnus Westgren, Marie Jaksch

  • 1Division of Transplantation Surgery B56, Karolinska University Hospital-Huddinge, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.

Differentiation; Research in Biological Diversity
|July 20, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Human fetal liver cells contain precursor cells that can differentiate into liver and pancreatic cells. Early gestation fetal liver (FL) tissue is rich in these stem-like progenitors, offering potential for cell therapy research.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Stem Cell Biology
  • Hepatology

Background:

  • Human hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) co-express hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) markers CD117 and CD34.
  • HPCs can differentiate into hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, and pancreatic cells.
  • The fetal liver (FL) is a source of precursor cells, but their developmental markers and progenitor potential are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify markers expressed by human fetal liver cells during development.
  • To determine if liver stem-like progenitors exist in the fetal liver.
  • To characterize isolated putative HPCs from early gestation FL.

Main Methods:

  • Flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, and histochemistry were used to analyze FL tissue (5-18 weeks gestation).

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  • Cells expressing hematopoietic, hepatic, and pancreatic markers were identified.
  • Isolated CD117+/CD34+/CD90- cells were characterized phenotypically and molecularly in vitro.

    • Main Results:

    • Early gestation FL showed abundant red blood and endothelial cell precursors.
    • HSC and pancreatic markers appeared in the first trimester; hepatic markers in the second.
    • Isolated CD117+/CD34+/CD90- cells expressed hepatic genes and proteins (albumin, AFP, alpha1-antitrypsin, CK19).
    • Hepatoblast and bile duct development primarily occurred in the second trimester.
    • FL from 5-9 weeks gestation had the most precursor cells and fewest committed cells.

    Conclusions:

    • Human fetal liver contains precursor cells with potential for hepatic and pancreatic differentiation.
    • Early gestation FL (5-9 weeks) is enriched in progenitor cells.
    • These early FL-derived progenitors may be valuable for cell therapy research and understanding basic mechanisms.