Liver-specific gene expression in mesenchymal stem cells is induced by liver cells

Figure 1 Experimental design. rMSC were harvested from rat bone marrow and were transduced with GFP and cloned. Cloned GFP+ rMSC were expanded and either seeded with hepatocytes in cocultures or alone. Controls included hepatocytes cultured alone. Cells were cultured for 7, 14, or 21 d. Cocultured cells were sorted by FACS into GFP+ (rMSC-derived) or GFP- (hepatocyte-derived) cells. Gene expression analysis for stem cell marker or liver specific genes was performed by RT-PCR.