Differentiation of Dental Pulp-Derived MSCs into Hepatocyte-Like Cells and Their Therapeutic Use for Chemical Liver Injuries of Rats

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from dental tissues have gained attention in the field of regenerative medicine, in part because they can be obtained from deciduous or extracted teeth. This study aims to investigate the potential of dental pulp-derived MSCs (DP-MSCs) to differentiate into cells with hepatocyte function and to examine the therapeutic effects of these cells on acute chemical liver injuries of rats. MSC fractions from dental pulp were cultured using specific reagents containing activin A and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Albumin, fibrinogen, and urea production were assessed and their specific mRNAs were detected by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. Therapeutic effects of DP-MSCs on rats with acute chemical injuries induced by concanavalin A (ConA) and D-galactosamine (D-gal) were also investigated. DP-MSCs differentiated into polygonal hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) that produced albumin and converted ammonium to urea. Importantly, HNF4α, which is a liver-specific transcription factor, was expressed in HLCs, confirming the liver-specific properties of HLCs. Administration of HLCs induced significant improvements in liver function following hepatic injury in rats. Thus, DP-MSCs could differentiate into cells with hepatic function. The potential contribution of these cells in regenerative medicine for refractory liver diseases is expected.