Affymetrix profile of human liver progenitor cells. Homo sapiens

Human liver progenitor cells (LPCs) show therapeutic potential, however, their in vitro culture results in inadequate function and phenotypic instability reflecting incomplete understanding of in vivo processes. Foetal LPCs capable of differentiation to a hepatocyte phenotype were isolated and mRNA expression profiling carried out using Affymetrix HGU133plus2 microarrays. This was compared to profiles from mature human hepatocytes and human embryonic stem cells undergoing hepatocytic differentiation. Foetal LPCs exhibit a distinct molecular profile consistent with a stem cell signature, cell division, and some liver-specific functions. Overall design: 9 independent samples of second trimester liver progenitor cells were profiled along with 3 independent mature hepatocyte samples and 3 each of embryonic stem cells at day 9 and day 17 of differentiation to hepatocyte like cells.

人肝祖细胞（human liver progenitor cells, LPCs）具有治疗潜力，但体外培养时常出现功能不全与表型不稳定的问题，这反映出当前对其体内发育过程的认知仍存在不足。本研究成功分离出可分化为肝细胞表型的胎儿LPCs，并采用Affymetrix HGU133plus2微阵列开展mRNA表达谱分析，将所得表达谱与成熟人肝细胞以及正在向肝细胞分化的人胚胎干细胞的表达谱进行对比。结果显示，胎儿LPCs呈现出独特的分子表达特征，与干细胞特征、细胞分裂活性及部分肝脏特异性功能高度契合。
实验设计概况：本次实验共对9份独立的孕中期肝祖细胞样本、3份独立的成熟肝细胞样本，以及分别在向类肝细胞分化第9天、第17天的人胚胎干细胞样本各3份进行了表达谱分析。