Noncoding RNA Transcripts during Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Hepatocytes

Summary

Recent advances in the stem cell field allow to obtain many human tissues in vitro. However, hepatic differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) still remains challenging. Hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) obtained after differentiation resemble more fetal liver hepatocytes. MicroRNAs (miRNA) play an important role in the differentiation process. Here, we analysed noncoding RNA profiles from the last stages of differentiation and compare them to hepatocytes. Our results show that HLCs maintain an epithelial character and express miRNA which can block hepatocyte maturation by inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additionally, we identified differentially expressed small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) and discovered novel noncoding RNA (ncRNA) genes.

Authors Skrzypczyk A, Kehr S, Krystel I, Bernhart SH, Giri S, Bader A, Stadler PF
Journal Stem cells international
Publication Date 2018;2018:5692840
PubMed 30210551
PubMed Central PMC6120260
DOI 10.1155/2018/5692840

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