Commentary
Human mesenchymal stromal cells are adult stem cells, which feature hepatotropism. They support liver regeneration through amelioration of hepatic inflammation and lipid accumulation in a mouse model of NASH.
To study mesenchymal stromal cells actions on fatty liver mechanistically, MJ Hsu et al. (Applied Molecular Hepatology Lab, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany) established an in vitro model of co-culture comprising mesenchymal stromal cells and isolated mouse hepatocytes. Lipid storage in hepatocytes was induced by the treatment with medium deficiency of methionine and choline.
The protocol allowed the authors to detect the formation of extensions named filopodia from mesenchymal stromal cells to contact the fatty hepatocytes or other mesenchymal stromal cells within 24 hours of co-culture. Filopodia are thin finger-like, actin-rich structures often found protruding from the lamellipodial actin network. These structures may represent tunneling nanotubes, actin-based cytoplasmic extensions that function as intercellular channels, allowing for long-range intercellular communication.
