Gene expression profiling of hepatocyte-like cells from human mesenchymal stem 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 5 days converted MSC-UCs to hepatocyte-like cells (4F-Heps). We then examined gene expression profiles of 4F-Heps and compared them with those of non-treated MSC-UCs (NC) or MSC-UCs treated with NTP-EGFP protein as control protein (NE). Gene expression profiles of three different groupe (4F-treated MSC-Ucs (4F-Heps), NTP-EGFP(NE)-treated MSC-UCs and non-treated MSC-Ucs). 4F and NE were added to culture medium at 0.25 nM twice a day for 5 days. The cells were collected after 2 days of the last treatment. Three independent experiments were performed at each sample.