Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026
In Vitro Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Functional Cardiomyocyte-like Cells
Published on: August 9, 2017
In vitro hepatic trans-differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells using sera from congestive/ischemic liver
Dillip Kumar Bishi1, Santosh Mathapati1, Kotturathu Mammen Cherian2
1Stem Cells and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India; Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, International Centre for Cardiothoracic and Vascular Diseases, Frontier Lifeline, Chennai, India.
Abstract:
Cellular therapy for end-stage liver failures using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs)-derived hepatocytes is a potential alternative to liver transplantation. Hepatic trans-differentiation of hMSCs is routinely accomplished by induction with commercially available recombinant growth factors, which is of limited clinical applications. In the present study, we have evaluated the potential of sera from cardiac-failure-associated congestive/ischemic liver patients for hepatic trans-differentiation of hMSCs. Results from such experiments were confirmed through morphological changes and expression of hepatocyte-specific markers at molecular and cellular level. Furthermore, the process of mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition during hepatic trans-differentiation of hMSCs was confirmed by elevated expression of E-Cadherin and down-regulation of Snail. The functionality of hMSCs-derived hepatocytes was validated by various liver function tests such as albumin synthesis, urea release, glycogen accumulation and presence of a drug inducible cytochrome P450 system. Based on these findings, we conclude that sera from congestive/ischemic liver during cardiac failure support a liver specific microenvironment for effective hepatic trans-differentiation of hMSCs in vitro.
