Selective culture method for hepatocyte-like cells differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells

Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2014;29(5):407-13. doi: 10.2133/dmpk.dmpk-14-rg-022. Epub 2014 Apr 29.

Abstract

This study aimed to establish culture conditions which are able to give the differentiation of induced pluripotent (iPS) cells to hepatocytes. To this end, we examined the usefulness of a culture medium containing the components involved in the intermediary metabolism in the liver. More specifically, we examined the effect of the "modified L-15 medium" containing galactose, phenylalanine and ornitine, but deprived of glucose, tyrosine, arginine and pyruvic acid. The medium was altered according to changes in the expression of enzymes that participate in liver-specific pathways. After 25 days of differentiation, the differentiated cells expressed hepatocyte markers and drug-metabolizing enzymes. These expression levels were increased using modified L-15 medium. The survival of human fetal liver cells and the death of human fibroblasts were observed during culture in modified L-15 medium. Most of the cells that differentiated from human iPS cells using modified L-15 medium were stained by anti-human albumin antibody. These results suggest that iPS cells can be converted to high purity-differentiated hepatocytes by cultivating them in modified L-15 medium.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Culture Techniques*
  • Cell Differentiation* / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Culture Media / chemistry
  • Culture Media / pharmacology
  • Hepatocytes / cytology*
  • Hepatocytes / drug effects
  • Hepatocytes / enzymology
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / drug effects

Substances

  • Culture Media