Description
The Immortalized Mouse Embryonic Hepatic Progenitor Cells are non-tumorigenic, hygromycin-resistant, reversibly immortalized cells that expresses endothelial (CD34), progenitor (Pou5f1/Oct4), and hepatic (AFP, Dlk, Alb) cell markers. The cells are programmed for liver-specific gene expression and differentiation, as indicated by the presence of hepatic/pancreatic transcriptions factors (i.e. HNF3/Foxa1, HNF3β/Foxa2, and HNF4α/MODY1) that are involved in mouse liver development. Indocyanine green (ICG) uptake and glycogen storage functions has also been observed in these cells.The cells are unique as the immortalization process may be reversed by removing SV40 large T antigen expression via transduction with recombinant adenovirus expressing Cre recombinase, resulting in primary hepatic progenitor cells. Both immortalized and primary forms of the hepatic progenitor may undergo differentiationin vitrowhen cultured with dexamethasone, developing mature hepatocytes which express hepatic cell markers (i.e. CK18, TAT, and ApoB). It is recommended to use these cells for studies in liver stem cell, liver organogenesis, and hepatocytes transplant therapy