The effect of dimethyl sulfoxide on hepatic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.
INTRODUCTION
Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) are suitable choices in autologous stem cell treatment of liver-associated diseases due to their hepatic differentiation potential. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is an amphipathic molecule with potential of delivering both lipophilic and hydrophilic agents into cells, also a common cryoprotectant for freezing of the cells. DMSO was used in some protocols for induction of AT-MSCs towards hepatocyte like cells. However, the effect of DMSO on hepatogenic differentiation of AT-MSCs were not surveyed, previously. In the present study, we aimed at evaluation of the effect of DMSO on differentiation of AT-MSCs into hepatic lineage.


METHODS
We isolated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from adipose tissue, and then verifies multi-potency and surface markers of AT-MSCs . Isolated AT-MSCs randomly dispensed in four groups including Group 1: HGF treated, 2: HGF&plus; DMSO treated, 3: HGF&plus; DMSO&plus; OSM treated, and group control for a period of 3 weeks in the expansion medium without serum; EGF and bFGF were also included in the first days of inductions. The morphologic changes during induction period was observed with microscopy. The secretion of albumin (ALB) of the differentiating MSCs was investigated using ELISA, and urea production was evaluated using colorimetric assay. The qRT-PCR was performed for quantitation of hepatocyte marker genes including AFP, ALB, CK18, HNF4a, and HNF6. The glycogen storage of differentiated cells was visualized by periodic-acid Schiff&lsquo;s staining.


RESULTS
The results demonstrate that DMSO speeds up hepatic differentiation of AT-MSCs characterized by rapid changes in morphology; higher expression of hepatic marker gene (ALB) in both mRNA and protein level (P &lt; 0.05); also increased transcriptional levels of other liver genes including CK18, HNF4a, and HNF6 (P &lt; 0.01); and moreover, greater percentage of glycogen storage(p &lt; 0.05) in DMSO-treated groups.


CONCLUSION
DMSO catalyzes hepatic differentiation; therefore, using DMSO for acceleration of the hepatogenic protocols of AT-MSCs appears advantageous.
['Alizadeh|Effat|E|', 'Zarghami|Nosratollah|N|', 'Eslaminejad|Mohamadreza Baghaban|MB|', 'Akbarzadeh|Abolfazl|A|', 'Barzegar|Abolfazl|A|', 'Mohammadi|Seyed Abolghasem|SA|']
D000273:Adipose Tissue D015415:Biomarkers D002454:Cell Differentiation D002460:Cell Line D002470:Cell Survival D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors D015870:Gene Expression D006003:Glycogen D051557:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 D051559:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 6 D022781:Hepatocytes D006801:Humans D016130:Immunophenotyping D053538:Keratin-18 D008099:Liver D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells D061251:Primary Cell Culture D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins
hepatic differentiation DMSO AFP CK18 HNF4a HNF6 glycogen storage Adipose tissue&ndash derived mesenchymal stem cells