| 研究実績の概要 |
We examine whether SHED hepatically differentiated (hd) in vitro could be used to treat acute liver injury and secondary biliary cirrhosis. The CD117+ cell fraction was magnetically separated form SHED and then differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells in vitro. The cells were transplanted into rats with either acute liver injury (ALI) or induced secondary biliary cirrhosis. Engraftment of human liver cells was determined immunohistochemically and by in situ hybridization. Recovery of liver function was examined by means of histochemical and serological tests. Livers of transplanted animals were strongly positive for human immunohistochemical factors, and in situ hybridization confirmed engraftment of human hepatocytes. The tests for recovery of liver function confirmed the presence of human hepatic markers in the animals' blood serum, lack of fibrosis and functional integration of transplanted human cells into livers. No evidence of malignancy was found. We show that in vitro hdSHED engraft morphologically and functionally into the livers of rats having acute injury or secondary biliary cirrhosis. SHED are readily-accessible adult stem cells, capable of proliferating in large numbers before differentiating in vitro. This makes SHED an appropriate and safe stem-cell source for regenerative medicine.
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