Galactosylated collagen matrix enhanced in vitro maturation of human embryonic stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells

Biotechnol Lett. 2014 May;36(5):1095-106. doi: 10.1007/s10529-014-1454-0. Epub 2014 Feb 22.

Abstract

Due to their important biomedical applications, functional human embryonic stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells (hESC-HLCs) are an attractive topic in the field of stem cell differentiation. Here, we have initially differentiated hESCs into functional hepatic endoderm (HE) and continued the differentiation by replating them onto galactosylated collagen (GC) and collagen matrices. The differentiation of hESC-HE cells into HLCs on GC substrate showed significant up-regulation of hepatic-specific genes such as ALB, HNF4α, CYP3A4, G6P, and ASGR1. There was more albumin secretion and urea synthesis, as well as more cytochrome p450 activity, in differentiated HLCs on GC compared to the collagen-coated substrate. These results suggested that GC substrate has the potential to be used for in vitro maturation of hESC-HLCs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Engineering / methods
  • Collagen / chemistry
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Collagen / pharmacology*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Galactose / chemistry
  • Galactose / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Hepatocytes / cytology*
  • Hepatocytes / drug effects*
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Humans

Substances

  • Collagen
  • Galactose