The in Vitro Assessment of Biochemical Factors in Hepatocyte like Cells Derived from Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells

Introduction & Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is a source of Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC) and progenitor cells that can reconstitute the hematopoietic system in patients with malignant and nonmalignant disorders. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived from umbilical cord blood (UCB) have been differentiated to some kind of cells, such as osteobblast, adipoblast and chondroblast in Vitro. This study examined the differentiation of Umbilical Cord Blood (UCB) derived stem cells to functional hepatocytes. The present study was an experimental study which was carried out in the Payam-e-Noor University of Tehran in cooperation with Hamedan University of Medical Sciences in 2008. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) was obtained from Fatemieh hospital (Hamadan, Iran). Stem cells were isolated from the cord blood by combining density gradient centrifugation with plastic adherence. When the isolated cells reached 80% confluence, they differentiated to hepatocyte like cells. The medium which was used was consists of DMEM and 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) supplemented with 20 ng/mL Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), 10 ng/mL basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF) and 20 ng/mL Oncostatin M (OSM).The medium was changed every 3 days and stored for Albumin (ALB), Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), and urea assay. Finally PAS stain was done to study Glycogen storage in the differentiated cell. Measurement of biochemical factors in different days showed that concentration of albumin (ALB), alpha fetoprotein (AFP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and Urea gradually increased. Also, PAS staining showed the storage of glycogen in these cells. Stem cell-derived from human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) is a new source of cell types for cell transplantation therapy of hepatic diseases and under certain conditions these cells can differentiate into liver cells.