Serum Free ES to Hepatocyte Differentiation

Tehran, Iran -

The ability to differentiate embryonic stem cells into various tissues would allow for the generation of tailor-made cells that could replenish damaged organs or cells of the organs. If one is to approach this field from the outside, it makes the most sense to start not be trying to build a whole new organ, which is comprised of many cell types, extracellular matrices, and various other component. No. It would make more sense to start by developing a cellular therapy consisting of one specific type of cell.

In stemcellology, many groups have started to develope cell therapies by differentiating embryonic stem cells, or bone marrow stem cells, or mesenchymal stem cells into insulin producing cells. This is because islet-like cells can be administered as single cell preparations and are useful for the prevention of diabetes. This point of course was demonstrated clinically by the success of the Edmonton Protocol. In the area of diabetes it may also be worthwhile to note that clinical trials are currently going on for use of autologous cord blood stem cells for treatment of newly onset type 1 diabetes at the University of Florida, as well as that the company Osiris has recieved a grant from the JDRF for Phase II clinical trials of universal donor mesenchymal stem cells in patients with Type I diabetes.

In addition to diabetes, an area of cellular transplantology that has not been as extensively studied as one would imagine is the use of stem cells for the generation of hepatocytes, for hepatocyte transplantation. In general, it is known that bone marrow derived cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into hepatocytes. Additionally it is known that injection of bone marrow into patients with liver failure can induce regeneration of liver parenchyme and to some extent correct enzyme levels and Child-Pugh score.

Although patents are already issued for the generation of hepatocytes and hepatocyte-like cells from embryonic stem cells, many groups are working at optimizing protocols for the generation of hepatic cells from embryonic stem cells. In a recent paper (Baharvand et al. Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into functional hepatocyte-like cells in a serum-free adherent culture condition. Differentiation. 2007 Dec 20) Iranian scientists have developed a serum-free method for differentiating ES cells into hepatic-like cells. The scientist reported a novel multistep protocol based on preferential adherence to substrates. The resulting cells possessed hepatic morphology, generation of albumin and alpha-fetoprotein, ability to store glycogen, produce urea and to uptake LDLs.

It will be interesting to see how rapidly this group translates this finding clinically since there are already several stem cell trials ongoing in the country where the paper originated from.