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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
12:06
Isolation of CD133+ Liver Stem Cells for Clonal Expansion
Published on: October 10, 2011
CD133+ hepatic stellate cells are progenitor cells
Claus Kordes1, Iris Sawitza, Alexis Müller-Marbach
1Clinic of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectiology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. Claus.Kordes@t-online.de
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|November 23, 2006
Summary
Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) expressing CD133 possess progenitor cell properties. These CD133+ HSC can differentiate into myofibroblast-like, endothelial, or hepatocyte lineages, suggesting a role in liver regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Cellular Differentiation
Background:
- Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are key players in liver fibrosis development.
- The potential progenitor cell characteristics of HSC remain largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether HSC express stem/progenitor cell markers.
- To characterize the differentiation potential of CD133+ HSC.
Main Methods:
- Rat CD133+ HSC were isolated using magnetic cell sorting and specific antibodies.
- Cell differentiation was induced using specific cytokine cocktails.
- Expression of cell-specific markers was analyzed via molecular and morphological assays.
Main Results:
- Isolated CD133+ HSC expressed markers of HSC, endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), and monocytes.
- CD133+ HSC differentiated into alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive myofibroblast-like cells in culture.
- Cytokine treatment induced CD133+ HSC to form endothelial-like structures and express endothelial markers (eNOS, VE-cadherin).
- Hepatocyte differentiation was observed, with cells expressing alpha-fetoprotein and albumin.
Conclusions:
- CD133+ HSC represent a newly identified progenitor cell population with early EPC characteristics.
- These cells exhibit multipotent differentiation capacity towards endothelial and hepatocyte lineages.
- CD133+ HSC likely play a significant role in liver regeneration processes.
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