OBJECTIVETo isolate and culture mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from human fetal livers and describe their biological characteristics.

METHODSMSCs were acquired using an optimized method. Cell cycles and the immunophenotype of the cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The osteogenic and adipogenic differentiations were induced and identified by specific stainings, and hepatic differentiation by morphology and RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe target cells derived from human fetal livers adhered to the plate with fibroblast-like morphology, whose surface markers were CD90, CD44, CD147 positive, and CD34, CD45, HLA-DR negtive. In the differentiation study, these cells could be induced to differentiate into osteogenic, adipogenic and hepatocyte-like cells.

CONCLUSIONMultipotent MSCs can be isolated and cultured from human fetal livers.