Growing and expanding primary, differentiated adult cells in culture is difficult and laborious because many differentiated cells can only be maintained in vitro for a limited period of time. However, for controlled experiments, it may be necessary to maintain a consistent population of cells. Maintaining a population of adult stem cells (ASCs), allows one to exponentially propagate a population of cells in vitro, and induce differentiation when desired. This is possible with SACK cell strains and specified cell culture conditions. SACK ASC cell properties – Long-term propagation in xanthosine (Xs)-supplemented medium Suppressed asymmetric cell kinetics Differentiated progeny cell properties – Xs-free medium, confluent monolayer, serum reduction Hepatocyte Properties Albumin secretionAlpha-fetoprotein secretion (indicates presence of hepatoblasts)Alpha 1-antitrypsin expressionH4 hepatocyte antigen expressionInducible cytochrome P450 activity (CYP1A1, CYP1A2) Constitutive cytochrome P450 metabolism (CYP2E1)Spheroid formationBinucleation Biliary Properties CK7 expression (biliary epithelial cell marker)

For research use only