The expression of mesenchymal, neural and haematopoietic stem cell markers in adult hepatocytes proliferating in vitro.

Background/aims: Cultured adult hepatocytes may be stimulated into clonal expansion. We raise the question whether adult hepatocytes proliferating in vitro recapitulate the early process of hepatic development.

Methods: A non-enzymatic method was used to isolate hepatocytes free of contamination with non-parenchymal cells.