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.

The development of efficient methods for the synthesis and purification of chiral organic compounds is a challenge in modern science and technology. Pharmaceutically and agrochemically important compounds are especially required in optically pure form. We report the racemic mixture synthesis of β‐perfluoroalkyl α‐amino acids, which is based on the In‐mediated addition of perfluoroalkyl radicals to dehydroamino acids followed by asymmetric protonation. All the enantiomers can be separated by using a single chiral HPLC column, without orthogonal use of a fluorous column.

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