The effecf of bone morphogenetic proteins 2, 7 in inducing murine embryonic stem cells into hepatic cells in vitro

Objective 　To explore the effect of recombinant adenovirus-mediated bone morphogenetic proteins 2, 7 (AdvBMP2, Adv-BMP7) in inducing transformation of murine embryonic hepatic progenitor cells to mature hepatic-like cells. Methods 　HP14.5 cells were divided into 4 groups, and then infected by recombinant adenovirus expressing BMP2, BMP7, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and green fluorescent protein (GFP), respectively. For investigating the differential regulation of HP14.5 cells, the luciferase report gene was detected at the 1st, 4th and 7th day post infection, the expression of hepatocyte marker albumin (ALB) was detected at the 7th day after infection by cellular immunofluorescence assay. The maturation and differentiation of HP14.5 cells were examined by PAS staining and urea nitrogen synthesis of the cells at day 4, 7 and 10 post-infection. Results 　The expression of ALB with BMP2 and HGF increased significantly compared to that in GFP control group tested by luciferase report gene; cellular immunofluorescence assay indicated that the specific marker of mature hepatocyte ALB was strong expressed at day 7 post-infection, while a negative result was observed in the GFP control group; HP14.5 cells infected with BMP2 and HGF have also acquired functional characteristics of hepatocytes which synthesized and secreted urea nitrogen, and stored glycogen. However, less inductive activity was found in BMP7 group. Conclusion 　BMP2 may induce the differentiation of HP14.5 cells into mature hepatocyte-like cells with initial synthesis and secretion, but BMP7 may have no such a capability.