Labeling And Tracking Hepatic Stem Cells Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging EX And In Vivo

Objective To isolate, purify rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) andidentify the characteristics of stem cells. To study the differentiation potentialinto hepatocyte-like phenotype of BMSCs in vitro.Materials and Methods BMSCs of rats were isolated, purified and thenproceeded for cell-cycle analysis and fluorescence-activated cell sorting.Immunocytochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of cellularalkaline phosphatase (ALP) and nestin activity of BMSCs after they wereinduced to differentiate into osteoblast and neuron. Hepatocyte-like cells wereinduced in different culture media in the presence of HGF or rat serum. Cellswere harvested on 3d, 7d, 14d and 21d, followed by RT-PCR analysis andimmunocytochemistry analysis to examination of hepatocyte's characteristics.Results The purified cells were typical fibroblast-like and possessed a strongproliferative capability in vitro. The cells cycle analysis revealed that the majorityof cells (over 85 percents) stood in G0/G1 phase while a small population ofcells was in (S + G2 +M) phase. FACS revealed that majority of cells (all over99 percents) expressed markers of CD90, CD29 but not expressed marker ofCD45. They also differentiated into ALP positive osteoblast and nestin positiveneural cells in the induction medium. Expression of AFP and ALB at mRNAlevels were detectable on different time points after HGF or rat serum induction.ALB mRNA was expressed later than AFP. Immunocytochemical staining alsoindicated the expression of AFP and ALB at 21d.Conclusion The BMSCs possess multi-lineage potential, and show animportant hepatocyte-like cells differentiation potential, which may represent anovel candidate resource for cell therapy of hepatic diseases.