Biomaterial Database

Multipotent stem/progenitor cells in human biliary tree give rise to hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, and pancreatic islets. 2011

Vincenzo Cardinale, and Yunfang Wang, and Guido Carpino, and Cai-Bin Cui, and Manuela Gatto, and Massimo Rossi, and Pasquale Bartolomeo Berloco, and Alfredo Cantafora, and Eliane Wauthier, and Mark E Furth, and Luca Inverardi, and Juan Dominguez-Bendala, and Camillo Ricordi, and David Gerber, and Eugenio Gaudio, and Domenico Alvaro, and Lola Reid

Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Biomedical Engineering, Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.

Multipotent stem/progenitors are present in peribiliary glands of extrahepatic biliary trees from humans of all ages and in high numbers in hepato-pancreatic common duct, cystic duct, and hilum. They express endodermal transcription factors (e.g., Sox9, SOX17, FOXA2, PDX1, HES1, NGN3, PROX1) intranuclearly, stem/progenitor surface markers (EpCAM, NCAM, CD133, CXCR4), and sometimes weakly adult liver, bile duct, and pancreatic genes (albumin, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator [CFTR], and insulin). They clonogenically expand on plastic and in serum-free medium, tailored for endodermal progenitors, remaining phenotypically stable as undifferentiated cells for months with a cell division initially every ≈36 hours and slowing to one every 2-3 days. Transfer into distinct culture conditions, each comprised of a specific mix of hormones and matrix components, yields either cords of hepatocytes (express albumin, CYP3A4, and transferrin), branching ducts of cholangiocytes (expressing anion exchanger-2-AE2 and CFTR), or regulatable C-peptide secreting neoislet-like clusters (expressing glucagon, insulin) and accompanied by changes in gene expression correlating with the adult fate. Transplantation into quiescent livers of immunocompromised mice results in functional human hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, whereas if into fat pads of streptozocin-induced diabetic mice, results in functional islets secreting glucose-regulatable human C-peptide. CONCLUSIONS The phenotypes and availability from all age donors suggest that these stem/progenitors have considerable potential for regenerative therapies of liver, bile duct, and pancreatic diseases including diabetes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007515	Islets of Langerhans	Irregular microscopic structures consisting of cords of endocrine cells that are scattered throughout the PANCREAS among the exocrine acini. Each islet is surrounded by connective tissue fibers and penetrated by a network of capillaries. There are four major cell types. The most abundant beta cells (50-80%) secrete INSULIN. Alpha cells (5-20%) secrete GLUCAGON. PP cells (10-35%) secrete PANCREATIC POLYPEPTIDE. Delta cells (~5%) secrete SOMATOSTATIN.	Islands of Langerhans,Islet Cells,Nesidioblasts,Pancreas, Endocrine,Pancreatic Islets,Cell, Islet,Cells, Islet,Endocrine Pancreas,Islet Cell,Islet, Pancreatic,Islets, Pancreatic,Langerhans Islands,Langerhans Islets,Nesidioblast,Pancreatic Islet
D012038	Regeneration	The physiological renewal, repair, or replacement of tissue.	Endogenous Regeneration,Regeneration, Endogenous,Regenerations
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D003114	Colony-Forming Units Assay	A cytologic technique for measuring the functional capacity of stem cells by assaying their activity.	Clonogenic Cell Assay,Stem Cell Assay,Clonogenic Cell Assays,Colony Forming Units Assays,Colony-Forming Units Assays,Stem Cell Assays,Assay, Clonogenic Cell,Assay, Colony-Forming Units,Assay, Stem Cell,Assays, Clonogenic Cell,Assays, Colony-Forming Units,Assays, Stem Cell,Colony Forming Units Assay
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001659	Biliary Tract	The BILE DUCTS and the GALLBLADDER.	Biliary System,Biliary Tree,System, Biliary,Tract, Biliary,Tree, Biliary
D014157	Transcription Factors	Endogenous substances, usually proteins, which are effective in the initiation, stimulation, or termination of the genetic transcription process.	Transcription Factor,Factor, Transcription,Factors, Transcription
D014183	Transplantation, Heterologous	Transplantation between animals of different species.	Xenotransplantation,Heterograft Transplantation,Heterografting,Heterologous Transplantation,Xenograft Transplantation,Xenografting,Transplantation, Heterograft,Transplantation, Xenograft