Aim
To evaluate the presence of progenitor cells in healthy adult rat liver displaying the equivalent advanced hepatogenic profile as that obtained in human.
Conclusion
Advanced hepatic features observed in human liver progenitor cells could not be demonstrated in rFLDC. However, we demonstrated the presence of an original rodent hepato-biliary cell type.
Methods
Rat fibroblastic-like liver derived cells (rFLDC) were obtained from collagenase-isolated liver cell suspensions and characterized and their phenotype profile determined using flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and functional assays.
Results
rFLDC exhibit fibroblastoid morphology, express mesenchymal (CD73, CD90, vimentin, α-smooth muscle actin), hepatocyte (UGT1A1, CK8) and biliary (CK19) markers. Moreover, these cells are able to store glycogen, and have glucose 6 phosphatase activity, but not UGT1A1 activity. Under the hepatogenic differentiation protocol, rFLDC display an up-regulation of hepatocyte markers expression (albumin, tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase, G6Pase) correlated to a down-regulation of the expression of the biliary marker CK19.