Immortalized mouse fetal liver stromal cells support growth and maintenance of human embryonic stem cells

Oncol Rep. 2012 Oct;28(4):1385-91. doi: 10.3892/or.2012.1909. Epub 2012 Jul 13.

Abstract

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are usually maintained in an undifferentiated state by co-culture with feeder cells. The feeder cells are important for the growth of hESCs. A novel spontaneously immortalizated mouse fetal liver stromal cell line, named KM3, was isolated from a 13.5‑day mouse fetal liver. In this study, we examined whether KM3 cells could be used as feeders to support the growth of hESCs. hESCs cultured on KM3 cells showed a similar proliferation rate and characteristics to mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) after prolonged culture, including morphology, unlimited and undifferentiated proliferative ability, maintenance of normal karyotypes, formation of embryoid bodies in vitro and typically immature teratomas in vivo. Our results indicate that the immortalized KM3 cell line has the potential to support the growth and maintenance of hESCs. The cell line may be used for the large-scale expansion of hESCs in a low-cost and less labor-intensive manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Embryoid Bodies
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Female
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Gene Expression
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Karyotype
  • Liver / cytology
  • Liver / embryology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Mitomycin / pharmacology
  • Nanog Homeobox Protein
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / genetics
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Stromal Cells / cytology*
  • Stromal Cells / drug effects
  • Teratoma / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • NANOG protein, human
  • Nanog Homeobox Protein
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3
  • SOX2 protein, human
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors
  • Mitomycin