Activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling via GSK3 inhibitors direct differentiation of human adipose stem cells into functional hepatocytes.

ABSTRACT: The generation of hepatocytes that are derived from human adipose stem cells (hASCs) represents an alternative to human hepatocytes for individualized therapeutic and pharmaceutical applications. However, the mechanisms facilitating hepatocyte differentiation from hASCs are not well understood. Here, we show that upon exposure to glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) inhibitors alone, the expression of definitive endoderm specific genes GATA4, FOXA2, and SOX17 in hASCs significantly increased in a manner with activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling. Down regulation of the β-catenin expression attenuates the effect of GSK3 inhibitors on the induction of these specific genes. The cells induced using GSK3 inhibitors were directed to differentiate synchronously into hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) aft

SUBMITTER: Huang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5240561 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature