Fibroblast growth factor-4 and hepatocyte growth factor induce differentiation of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocytes

AIM: To investigate the differentiation of human umbilical cord blood (HUCB)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into hepatocytes by induction of fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF-4) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and to find a new source of cell types for therapies of hepatic diseases.METHODS: vSCs were isolated by combining gradient density centrifugation with plastic adherence. When HUCB-derived MSCs reached 70% confluence, they were cultured in Iscove modified Dulbecco medium (IMDM) supplemented with 10 mL/L FBS, 20 ng/mL HGF and 10 ng/mL FGF-4. The medium was changed every 4 d and stored for albumin, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and urea assay. Expression of CK-18 was detected by immunocytochemistry. Glycogen storage in hepatocytes was determined by PAS staining.RESULTS: By combining gradient density centrifugation with plastic adherence, we could isolate MSCs from 25.6% of human umbilical cord blood. When MSCs were cultured with FGF-4 and HGF, approximately 63.6% of cells became small, round and epithelioid on d 28 by morphology. Compared with the control, the level of AFP increased significantly from d 12 to 18.20±1.16 μg/L (t = 2.884, P＜0.05) in MSCs cultured with FGF-4 and HGF, and was higher (54.28±3.11 μg/L) on d 28 (t = 13.493, P＜0.01). Albumin increased significantly on d 16 (t = 6.68, P＜0.01) to 1.02±0.15 μg/mL, and to 3.63±0.30 μg/mL on d 28 (t = 11.748, P＜0.01). Urea(4.72±1.03 μmol/L) was detected on d 20 (t = 4.272,P＜0.01), and continued to increase to 10.28±1.06 μmol/L on d 28 (t = 9.276, P＜0.01). Cells expressed CK-18 on d 16. Glycogen storage was observed on d 24. CONCLUSION: HUCB-derived MSCs can differentiate into hepatocytes by induction of FGF-4 and HGF. HUCBderived MSCs are a new source of cell types for cell transplantation therapy of hepatic diseases.

Exogenous phosphatidylethanolamine induces apoptosis of human hepatoma HepG2 cells via the bcl-2/bax pathway

AIM: To investigate the signaling pathways implicated in phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)-induced apoptosis of human hepatoma HepG2 cells. METHODS: Inhibitory effects of PE on human hepatoma HepG2 cells were detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cell cycle, apoptosis and mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm) were analyzed by flow cytometry. Immunocytochemical assay and Western blotting were used to examine Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 protein levels in HepG2 cells treated with PE. RESULTS: PE inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells in a doseand timedependent manner. It did notaffect the cell cycle, but induced apoptosis. PE significantly decreased ΔΨm at 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mmol/L, respectively, suggesting that PE induces cell apoptosis by decreasing the mitochondrial transmembrane potential. The Bcl-2 expression level induced by different concentrations of PE was lower than that in control groups. However, the Bax expression level induced by PE was higher than that in the control group. Meanwhile, PE increased the caspase-3 expression in a doseand time-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Exogenous PE induces apoptosis of human hepatoma HepG2 cells via the bcl-2/bax pathway.

Apoptosis of pancreatic cancer BXPC-3 cells induced by indole-3-acetic acid in combination with horseradish peroxidase

AIM: To explore the mechanisms underlying the apoptosis of human pancreatic cancer BXPC-3 cells induced by indole-3-acetic acid (TAA) in combination with horseradish peroxidase (HRP).METHODS: BXPC-3 cells derived from human pancreatic cancer were exposed to 40 or 80 μmol/L IAA and 1.2 μg/mL HRP at different times. Then, MTT assay was used to detect the cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze cell cycle. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated dUTP nick end labeling assay was used to detect apoptosis. 2,7-Dichlorofluorescin diacetate uptake was measured by confocal microscopy to determine free radicals. Level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured by biochemical methods.RESULTS: IAA/HRP initiated growth inhibition of BXPC-3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometry revealed that the cells treated for 48 h were arrested at G1/G0. After exposure to 80 μmol/L IAA plus 1.2 μg/mL HRP for 72 h, the apoptosis rate increased to 72.5‰,which was nine times that of control. Content of MDA and activity of SOD increased respectively after treatment compared to control. Meanwhile, IAA/HRP stimulated the formation of free radicals.CONCLUSION: The combination of IAA and HRP can inhibit the growth of human pancreatic cancer BXPC-3 cells in vitro by inducing apoptosis.