Epigenetic analysis of hepatocyte-like cells from MSC-Ucs.

Global DNA methylation profiling of hepatocyte-like cells. We established a protein-based artificial transcription system and successfully engineered human hepatocyte-like cells from human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-UCs). We utilized four artificial transcription factors (ATFs) that targeted hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)1α, HNF3γ, HNF4α and GATA4 (4F), and found that treatment with 4F for 3 (4Fd3) or 5 (4Fd5) days converted MSC-UCs to hepatocyte-like cells. We then examined global DNA methylation profiles of 4Fd3, 4Fd5, NTP-EGFP protein treated cells (NE) and non-treated cells (NC). Bisulphite converted DNA from the 4 samples were hybridised to the Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC Beadchip.