INVESTIGATIONS ON POTENTIAL OF UMBILICAL CORD LINING STEM CELLS FOR IN VITRO MODELS

Since their discovery, stem cells have been highly regarded for their potential in applications ranging from bench top studies, pharmaceutical applications to cell-based therapy. In our study, the potential of human umbilical cord lining stem cells (UCLSCs) for in vitro models is investigated in two broad directions. Using a patented explantation method, umbilical cord lining mesenchymal cells (UCLMCs) are isolated and subjected to adipogenesis under varying concentrations of glucose and insulin. Results showed that the UCLMCs can differentiate into adipocyte-like cells that resembled adipocytes of either normal- or over-weight individuals. Further investigation is made on differentiation of umbilical cord lining epithelial cells (UCLECs) into hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs). It was found that the differentiation closely resembled the in vivo differentiation of hepatoblasts to hepatocytes, and the HLCs have functionally active cytochrome 3A4 enzyme. This is a novel report of an in vitro obesity model and functional HLCs derived from human UCLSCs.

Author dc:creator

• CHEONG HAN HUI

• umbilical cord lining stem cells, adipocytes, hepatocytes, differentiation, metabolism, in vitro models