The Phenotypic Characteristic of Liver-Derived Stem Cells From Adult Human Deceased Donor Liver

Liver transplantation is the only effective treatment for end-stage liver disease. Because of the limited donor availability, attention has been focused on the possibility to restore liver mass and function through cell transplantation. Stem cells are a promising source for liver repopulation after cell transplantation, but whether or not the adult liver contains hepatic stem cells is highly controversial. Several studies have suggested the presence of stem cells in the adult normal human liver. However, a population with stem cell properties has not yet been isolated. The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize progenitor cells in normal adult human liver. We isolated and expanded human liver stem cells (HLSCs) from a donated liver not suitable for liver transplantation or characterizing them by fluorescence-activated cell sorter, polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence assay. HLSCs expressed the mesenchymal stem cell markers CD29, CD73, CD44, CD90, CD105, and CD166 but not the hematopoietic stem cell markers CD34, CD45, and CD117. HISCs were also positive for vimentin and nestin, a stem cell marker. The absence of staining for cytokeratin-19, CD117, and CD34 indicated that HLSCs were not oval stem cells. In addition, HLSCs expressed CD26, and in a small percentage of cells, cytokeratin-8 and cytokeratin-18, indicating a partial commitment to hepatic cells. We concluded that HLSCs expressed several mesenchymal but not hematopoietic stem cell markers as well as CD26 and CK18, indicating a partial commitment to hepatic cells.