Embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cells derived from the inner cell mass of fertilized blastocysts in vitro. ES cells can be induced to undergo differentiation into potentially all cell types. The aim of this study is to examine the differentiating potential of mouse ES cells into hepatocytes in the presence of retinoic acid (RA), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and ␤-nerve growth factor (␤-NGF). RA, HGF, and ␤-NGF were added to the cell culture. Hepatocyte induction was confirmed morphologically, as well as biochemically, through immunohistochemical assays of ␣ 1 -antitrypsin (␣ 1 -AT) and alfafetaprotein (AFP) expression and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction tests for the presence of albumin, transthyretin, glucose 6 phosphates, hepatic nuclear factor 4, and SAPK/ERK kinase-1 (SEK1) messenger RNA, produced only by functioning hepatocytes. Fifteen days after the addition of HGF and ␤-NGF to the cell culture, many epithelioid cells were noticed. ␣ 1 -AT, AFP, albumin, transthyretin, glucose 6 phosphates, hepatic nuclear factor 4, and SEK1 messenger RNA expression also was detected, indicating successful ES cell differentiation into functioning hepatocytes. However, in the presence of RA alone, only transthyretin messenger RNA was positive, whereas no other expression pertaining to functioning hepatocytes could be detected. In the presence of HGF and ␤-NGF, mouse ES cells can differentiate into functioning hepatocytes, whereas RA function is limited. E mbryonic stem (ES) cells are continuously growing cell lines derived from the inner cell mass of 3.5-day blastocysts. Under proper experimental conditions in vitro, ES cells have full developmental potential to differentiate into cell types of all three germ layers. 1,2 In addition, when allowed to form three-dimensional structures known as embryoid bodies (EBs), ES cells initiate the progenitor from a continuously growing stem-cell population in vitro, providing a unique system for the analysis of both cellular and molecular events involved in the first stage of lineage determination. ES cells also have been used to study the differentiation of various cell types and tissues in vitro, such as neural cells, 3 hematopoietic lineages, and cardiomyocytes. 4 ES-derived cells have been transplanted successfully into the neuronal system and liver of fetal and adult mice, where they show integration of morphological characteristics and function. 5 Because of the shortage of liver donors, hepatocyte transplantation currently is being evaluated as a potential method of providing metabolic support during acute and chronic liver failure and can be used to compensate specific liver functions in patients with inherited metabolic liver diseases. 6 Hepatocytes currently have not been considered an ideal source for cell transplantation. We wanted to know whether ES cells could be a new cell source for cell transplantation to treat liver diseases.The aim of our study is to investigate the effects of retinoic acid (RA), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and ␤-ner...

IntroductionGloboid cell leukodystrophy (GLD) is a severe disorder of the central and peripheral nervous system caused by the absence of galactocerebrosidase (GALC) activity. Cell-based therapies are highly promising strategies for GLD. In this study, G-Olig2 mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) were induced into oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and were implanted into the brains of twitcher mice, an animal model of GLD, to explore the therapeutic potential of the cells.MethodsThe G-Olig2 ESCs were induced into OPCs by using cytokines and a multi-step differentiation procedure. Oligodendrocyte markers were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunocytochemistry. The toxicity of psychosine to OPCs was determined by a cell proliferation assay kit. The GALC level of OPCs was also examined. OPCs were labeled with Dir and transplanted into the brains of twitcher mice. The transplanted cells were detected by in-Vivo Multispectral Imaging System and real-time PCR. The physiological effects of twitcher mice were assessed.ResultsOligodendrocyte markers were expressed in OPCs, and 76% ± 5.76% of the OPCs were enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)-positive, eGFP was driven by the Olig2 promoter. The effect of psychosine on cell viability indicated that OPCs were more resistant to psychosine toxicity. The GALC level of OPCs was 10.0 ± 1.23 nmol/hour per mg protein, which was significantly higher than other cells. Dir-labeled OPCs were injected into the forebrain of post-natal day 10 twitcher mice. The transplanted OPCs were myelin basic protein (MBP)-positive and remained along the injection tract as observed by fluorescent microscopy. The level of the Dir fluorescent signal and eGFP mRNA significantly decreased at days 10 and 20 after injection, as indicated by in-Vivo Multispectral Imaging System and real-time PCR. Because of poor cell survival and limited migration ability, there was no significant improvement in brain GALC activity, MBP level, life span, body weight, and behavioral deficits of twitcher mice.ConclusionsESC-derived OPC transplantation was not sufficient to reverse the clinical course of GLD in twitcher mice.

The differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into neurons and glial cells represents a promising cell-based therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. Because the rhesus macaque is physiologically and phylogenetically similar to humans, it is a clinically relevant animal model for ESC research. In this study, the pluripotency and neural differentiation potential of a rhesus monkey ESC line (ORMES6) was investigated. ORMES6 was derived from an in vitro produced blastocyst, which is the same way human ESCs have been derived. ORMES6 stably expressed the embryonic transcription factors POU5F1 (Oct4), Sox2 and NANOG. Stage-specific embryonic antigen 4 (SSEA 4) and the glycoproteins TRA-1-60 and TRA-1-81 were also expressed. The embryoid bodies (EBs) formed from ORMES6 ESCs spontaneously gave rise to cells of three germ layers. After exposure to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for 14-16 days, columnar rosette cells formed in the EB outgrowths. Sox2, microtubule-associated protein (MAP2), β-tublinIII and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) genes and Nestin, FoxD3, Pax6 and β-tublinIII antigens were expressed in the rosette cells. Oct4 and NANOG expression were remarkably down-regulated in these cells. After removal of bFGF from the medium, the rosette cells differentiated along neural lineages. The differentiated cells expressed MAP2, β-tublinIII, Neuro D and GFAP genes. Most differentiated cells expressed early neuron-specific antigen β-tublinIII (73±4.7%) and some expressed intermediate neuron antigen MAP2 (18±7.2%). However, some differentiated cells expressed the glial cell antigens A2B5 (7.17% ±1.2%), GFAP (4.93±1.9%), S100 (7±3.5%) and O4 (0.2±70.2%). The rosette cells were transplanted into the striatum of immune-deficient NIHIII mice. The cells persisted for approximately 2 weeks and expressed Ki67, NeuN, MAP2 and GFAP. These results demonstrate that the rhesus monkey ESC line ORMES6 retains the pluripotent characteristics of ESCs and can be efficiently induced to differentiate along neural lineages.

With cytokine induction, rhesus monkey ESC differentiated into cells displaying morphological features, gene expression patterns and metabolic activities characteristic of hepatocytes.

Transplantation of ES cells could be a potential treatment in supporting life during acute liver insufficiency and could be a bridge to orthotopic liver transplantation.

OBJECTIVE:  Embryonic stem (ES) cells have a pluripotent ability to differentiate into a variety of cell lineages. Cell‐to‐cell contact is important for cell differentiation. Mouse ES cells were cocultured with mouse fetal liver cells and the green fluorescent protein (GFP) positive ES cells were transplanted into rats liver through the portal vein in order to investigate their potential to differentiate into hepatocytes. METHODS:  Mouse ES cells were cocultured with the mouse fetal liver cell line, BNL.CL2. They did not make direct contact; instead the culture media was exchanged freely. After coculture for 48 h, albumin, transthyretin, glucose 6 phosphates, hepatic nuclear factor 4 and SEK1 mRNA were assayed by RT‐PCR, and alpha‐fetoprotein by immunohistochemistry. The morphology was investigated by microscopy. After transplantion of the GFP‐positive ES cells, the whole liver was removed from a rat every four days. The liver slices were examined under a fluorescent microscope to detect the GFP‐positive cells. Albumin was detected on the same slices by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS:  After coculture with BNL.CL2 cells, the differentiated ES cells had the same morphology as the BNL.CL2 cells, and albumin, transthyretin, glucose 6 phosphates and SEK‐1 mRNA were found by RT‐PCR, and alpha‐fetoprotein was detected immuno­histochemically. The transplanted GFP‐positive ES cells were found in the rats’ liver slices by GFP fluorescence, and development of teratomas was not observed. The immunohistochemistry results indicated that the transplanted GFP‐positive ES cells retained an albumin‐producing ability. CONCLUSIONS:  Cell‐to‐cell contact is important for the differentiation of ES cells. Mouse embryonic stem cells can differentiate into hepatocytes directly either in vitro or in vivo.