An in vitro model of polycystic liver disease using genome-edited human inducible pluripotent stem cells.

In the developing liver, bile duct structure is formed through differentiation of hepatic progenitor cells (HPC) into cholangiocytes. A subtype of polycystic liver diseases characterized by uncontrolled expansion of bile ductal cells is caused by genetic abnormalities such as in that of protein kinase C substrate 80 K-H (PRKCSH). In this study, we aimed to mimic the disease process in vitro by genome editing of the PRKCSH locus in human inducible pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. A proportion of cultured human iPS cell-derived CD13CD133 HPC differentiated into CD13 cells. During the subsequent gel embedding culture, CD13 cells formed bile ductal marker-positive cystic structures with the polarity of epithelial cells. A deletion of PRKCSH gene increased expression of cholangiocytic transcription factors in CD13 cells and the number of cholangiocytic cyst structure. These results suggest that PRKCSH deficiency promotes the differentiation of HPC-derived cholangiocytes, providing a good in vitro model to analyze the molecular mechanisms underlying polycystic diseases.