Mouse white adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells gain pericentral and periportal hepatocyte features after differentiation in vitro, which are preserved in vivo after hepatic transplantation

Aim: Mesenchymal stem cells may differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, they are considered a novel cell resource for the treatment of various liver diseases. Here, the aim was to demonstrate that mesenchymal stem cells may adopt both perivenous and periportal hepatocyte-specific functions in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from immunodeficient C57BL/6 (B6.129S6-Rag2(tm1Fwa)Prf1(tm1Clrk)) mice and differentiated into the hepatocytic phenotype by applying a simple protocol. Their physiological and metabolic functions were analysed in vitro and after hepatic transplantation in vivo. Results: Mesenchymal stem cells changed their morphology from a fibroblastoid into shapes of osteocytes, chondrocytes, adipocytes and hepatocytes. Typical for mesenchymal stem cells, hematopoietic marker genes were not expressed. CD90, which is not expressed on mature hepatocytes, decreased significantly after hepatocytic differentiation. Markers indicative for liver development like hepatic nuclear factor 4 alpha, or for perivenous hepatocyte specification like cytochrome P450 subtype 3a11, and CD26 were significantly elevated. Periportal hepatocyte-specific markers like carbamoylphosphate synthetase 1, the entry enzyme of the urea cycle, were up-regulated. Consequently, cytochrome P450 enzyme activity and urea synthesis increased significantly to values comparable to cultured primary hepatocytes. Both perivenous and periportal qualities were preserved after hepatic transplantation and integration into the host parenchyma. Conclusions: Adult mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells featuring both periportal and perivenous functions. Hence, they are promising candidates for the treatment of region-specific liver cell damage and may support organ regeneration in acute and chronic liver diseases.