Abstract: Objective To investigate the difference of differentiation from rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into hepatocyte-like cells from normal group and hepatic fibrosis model group. Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: normal group and hepatic fibrosis model group. The liver fibrosis was induced by CCL4. MSCs were isolated by combining gradient density centrifugation with plastic adherence. Pure MSCs were obtained by cultivation and passage .The cells then treated with HGF and FGF-4. Levels of AFP and albumin in the supernatant were determined on day 15, 21 and 27. On day 27, cells of induced and non-induced were collected, glycogen store of hepatocytes was determined and the expressions of CK-18 and CK-19 were detected by immunocytochemical analysis. Results The levels of AFP in induced MSCs were higher on day 15, 21, 27, and reached to the highest on day 21; there was no significant difference between induced and non-induced MSCs in albumin levels on day 15, but on day 21, 27, compared with the non-induced MSCs, the albumin level in induced MSCs was higher and up to highest on day 27;glycogen storage of induced MSCs was observed on day 27 compared with non-induced MSCs; the induced MSCs expressed CK-18 and CK-19 while the non-induced MSCs did not. Compared by the levels of AFP and albumin, there was no significant difference in differentiation effect of MSCs between the normal group and hepatic fibrosis model group. Conclusions:Rat MSCs of hepatic fibrosis model group could differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells with hepatic phenotype and function in the presence HGF and FGF-4 in vitro.

Key words: Hepatic fibrosis, Mesenchymal stem cells, hepatocyte-like cells, rat