Identification of the small molecule compound which induces hepatic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are expected to have utility as a cell source in regenerative medicine. Because we previously reported that suppression of the Wnt/β-catenin signal enhances hepatic differentiation of human MSCs, we synthesized twenty-three derivatives of small molecule compounds originally reported to suppress the Wnt/β-catenin signal in human colorectal cancer cells. We then screened these compounds for their ability to induce hepatic differentiation of human UE7T-13 MSCs. After screening using WST assay, TCF reporter assay, and albumin mRNA expression, IC-2, a derivative of ICG-001, was identified as a potent inducer of hepatic differentiation of human MSCs. IC-2 potently induced the expression of albumin, complement C3, tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO2), EpCAM, C/EBPα, glycogen storage, and urea production. Furthermore, we examined the effects of IC-2 on human bone marrow mononuclear cell fractions sorted according to CD90 and CD271 expression. Consequently, CD90+ CD271+ cells were found to induce the highest production of urea and glycogen, important hepatocyte functions, in response to IC-2 treatment. CD90+ CD271+ cells also highly expressed albumin mRNA. As the CD90+ CD271+ population has been reported to contain a rich fraction of MSCs, IC-2 apparently represents a potent inducer of hepatic differentiation of human MSCs.