OBJECTIVETo establish a method through which murine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be induced into hepatocytes in vitro.

METHODSA conditioned medium of injured hepatocytes (with CCl4 in vivo) was used to culture the isolated MSCs. The differentiated cells were identified by morphological observation, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunofluorescence assay (for AFP, Albumin, and CK18) and periodic acid schiff reaction (PAS) for glycogen.

RESULTSThe differentiated cells showed characteristics of hepatocytes. PT-PCR detected AFP mRNA on day 5 and it increased gradually until day 15, and then decreased; CK18 mRNA was detected on day 10; TAT was detected on day 20. Immunofluorescence assay for AFP, albumin and CK18 showed positive staining reactions on day 20. PAS positive glycogen granules appeared in the cytoplasm of the differentiated cells.

CONCLUSIONMSCs of adult mice cultured in a conditioned medium of injured hepatocytes can differentiate into hepatocytes. This method can be used in further studying of the mechanism of transdifferentiation of MSCs into hepatocytes.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of β-carotene anti-inflammatory on intestinal epithelial cells.Methods:The piglet jejunum epithelium(IPEC-J2)cell line was used as an cell model.The cells were divided into 4 groups[control group,β-carotene group,β-carotene pre-protective group and Lipopoly-saccharide(LPS)group].The control group was not treated,β-carotene group and β-carotene pre-protective group were pretreated with β-carotene.Lipopoly-saccharide(LPS)and β-carotene pre-protective groups were stimulated with LPS.The cell viability was detected by MTT.Western blot was performed to detect the expression of Occludin,Claudin4 and ZO-1 tight junction proteins.Results:The expression of IPEC-J2 cell tight junction protein in LPS group were significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).The expression of tight junction protein in β-carotene pre-protective group was significantly higher than that in LPS group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Increasing the expression of tight junction proteins may be one of the ways that anti-inflammatory effect of β-carotene in jejunum epithelial cells.