Human hepatocytes in mice receiving pre-immune injection with human cord blood cells

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Jan 7;326(1):66-73. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.10.204.

Abstract

It is well established that certain subpopulations of human adult stem cells can generate hepatocyte-like cells when transplanted into adult immunosuppressed mice. In the present study, we wanted to explore whether xeno-transplantation of human cord blood CD34(+) (hCBCD34(+)) cells during pre-immune stages of development in immunocompetent mice might also lead to human-mouse liver chimerism. Freshly isolated hCBCD34(+) cells were xeno-transplanted into non-immunosuppressed mice by both intra-blastocyst and intra-fetal injections. One and four weeks after birth, immunostaining for different human-specific hepatocyte markers: human hepatocyte-specific antigen, human serum albumin, and human alpha-1-antitrypsin indicated the presence of human hepatocyte-like cells in the livers of transplanted animals. Detection of human albumin mRNA further corroborated the development of pre-immune human-mouse chimeras. The current report, besides providing new evidence of the potential of hCBCD34(+) cells to generate human hepatocyte-like cells, suggests novel strategies for generating immunocompetent mice harboring humanized liver.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Female
  • Hepatocytes / cytology*
  • Hepatocytes / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Immunocompetence / physiology
  • Injections / methods
  • Liver / cytology
  • Liver / embryology*
  • Liver / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Pregnancy
  • Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Transplantation, Heterologous / methods*