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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
09:14
Isolation of Papillary and Reticular Fibroblasts from Human Skin by Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting
Published on: May 7, 2019
Human skin fibroblasts: From mesodermal to hepatocyte-like differentiation
Philippe A Lysy1, Françoise Smets, Catherine Sibille
1Université Catholique de Louvain et Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, HPED Department, PEDI Unit, Laboratory of Pediatric Hepatology and Cell Therapy, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.)
|October 31, 2007
Summary
Human skin fibroblasts exhibit remarkable differentiation potential, mirroring mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). These cells can transform into mesodermal and endodermal lineages, including hepatocytes, both in vitro and in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Stem Cell Research
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Recent studies highlight phenotypic similarities between fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
- Understanding fibroblast plasticity is crucial for regenerative medicine applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro and in vivo differentiation potential of human skin fibroblasts.
- To compare fibroblast differentiation capacity with human bone marrow MSCs.
- To explore fibroblast potential for mesodermal and endodermal cell lineages, including hepatocytes.
Main Methods:
- In vitro differentiation assays of human skin fibroblasts towards osteocytes, adipocytes, and hepatocytes.
- Gene expression and cytochemistry analyses for phenotype confirmation.
- In vivo studies using SCID mice with induced liver injury to assess fibroblast engraftment and differentiation.
- Comparison with human bone marrow MSCs differentiation potential.
Main Results:
- Fibroblasts successfully differentiated into osteocyte and adipocyte phenotypes in vitro.
- Fibroblast-derived hepatocyte-like cells (FDHLCs) exhibited morphology and markers of mature hepatocytes, including glycogen storage and urea synthesis.
- In vivo, infused fibroblasts engrafted in the liver of SCID mice and expressed hepatocyte markers.
- Fibroblast differentiation capacity was comparable to MSCs, with cells maintaining a mesenchymal-epithelial transition state.
Conclusions:
- Human skin fibroblasts possess significant differentiation potential, capable of adopting mesodermal and endodermal fates.
- Fibroblasts share phenotypic and functional characteristics with MSCs.
- These findings support the use of fibroblasts as a viable cell source for regenerative therapies, particularly for liver regeneration.
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