| Abstract: |
Objective. Bone marrow-derived adult liver stem cells (BALSC) represent a potential target for future cell-based therapies. For a salvage therapy in conditions such as liver failure, it is imperative to render BALSC functional in a timely manner. The aim of this study was to investigate whether interleukin (IL)-3 and -6 are capable of enhancing the liver-specific metabolic capacity of BALSC. Material and methods. Rat BALSC were cultured alone or with syngeneic hepatocytes. IL-3 and/or -6 were used to stimulate BALSC in cultures. The urea formation capacity of cultured BALSC was then determined. Results. When compared to BALSC in culture alone, urea metabolism was enhanced by 60.0% in co-cultures (p<0.0001). IL-3 and -6 increased urea formation in BALSC by 124.0% (p<0.0001). Conclusions. IL-3 and -6 enhance urea metabolism in BALSC. These cytokines may be used to prime BALSC prior to clinical application in bioartificial liver systems or cell transplantation. © 2007 Taylor & Francis. |
