Differentiation potential of human amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells

Liver disease is recognized as a significant cause of death worldwide.Treatment methods involving tissue and/or organ transplantation utilizing stem cells have emerged as an attractive alternative.Among the candidate cells employed in regenerative medicine, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have exhibited a promising potential as beneficial cell source.Herein, the purpose of this study was to characterize the attributes of human amniotic fluidderived MSCs (hAF-MSCs) and induced hepatocyte-like cells.The results indicated that MSCs acquired from human amniotic fluid cells uncovered proliferative potency along with the expression of MSCs markers.After hepatogenic induction, the cells exhibited strong levels of expression of ALB, AFP, HNF4, and CYP1B1 genes, as well as ALB and AFP proteins.In collaboration with the periodic staining associated with energy storage, the accumulation of glycogen within the cytoplasm was observed after 21 days of cell cultivation.Additionally, the cells were capable of internalizing indocyanine green into the cytoplasm.This reflected the potential detoxification of differentiated hepatocytes derived from hAF-MSCs, which could support the use of MSCs in cell-based therapy.