Markers for the Characterization of Liver Mesenchymal Stem Cell

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the characteristics of self-renewal, immune regulation and multipotency. Due to their multi-lineage differentiation potential [1], MSCs can be induced to differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, muscle cells, nerve cells, liver cells and pancreatic beta cells in vivo and in vitro. These characteristics make MSCs promising candidates for use in cell therapy and regenerative medicine [24]. MSCs were first described as stromal stem cells from the bone marrow that have a spindle shape in culture. However, although the bone marrow is considered the standard source for MSCs, MSCs isolated from other sources have different features in terms of surface markers, proliferation rates, and differentiation capability [5-7]. MSCs have been isolated from a number of other sources, such as adipose tissue, dental pulp, umbilical cord blood, and amniotic fluid [8-10]. One alternative source for MSCs is liver tissue. Scientists have isolated liver mesenchymal stem cells (LMSCs) from different species and attempted to characterize them in hopes that these cells could be a better alternative to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), especially for liver diseases [8]. One of the challenging aspects concerning MSCs in general is their characterization. In this mini-review, we will focus on studies that characterized LMSCs from different species, such as humans, mice, rats, rabbits, sheep, chickens and cattle. Human LMSCs and human BMSCs