Abstract: Objective To explore the feasibility of the induction of mesenchymal - epithelial transition of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. Methods MSCs were isolated from human adipose and induced with activin A, RA, BMP7 in vitro. The morphological changes were observed and the expressing of protein vimentin and β-catenin were analysed by Western blot. The mRNA expression levels of vimentin, E-cadherin, ZO-1 and β-catenin were compared between induced and non-induced groups by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results After inducing, hAD-MSCs morphology changed from spindle to orbicular-ovate, and expressed epithelial identification marker. The mRNA expression levels of E-cadherin, ZO-1 and β-catenin were significantly higher（P<0.05）, vimentin was lower in induced group than those in non-induced group（P<0.05）. Conclusion Human adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells can be induced into epithelial-like cells in vitro.

Key words: adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells, induce, mesenchymal–epithelial transitions