Objective        To determine the effect of recombinant adenovirus-mediated mouse bone morphogenetic proteins-9 (Adv-mBMP-9) on the differential regulation of mouse fetal liver stem cells to mature hepatocytes.       Methods        The mouse fetal liver stem cells were infected respectively by the constructed recombinant adenoviruses expressing BMP-9

hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)

and green fluorescent protein (GFP). Expression of alpha fetoprotein (AFP)

albumin (ALB) and cell keratin 18 (CK18) were tested by half quantitative PCR

real-time PCR

cellular immune fluorescence staining and fluorescent element enzyme gene report to investigate the regulation of stem cells differentiation.       Results        In 7 d after transfection

the △△Ct for mRNA expression of AFP were 0.027±0.003 and 0.023±0.002 respectively in the cells induced with BMP-9 and HGF

obviously lower when compared to the cells induced by GFP (0.103±0.018). For ALB

the △△Ct were 0.041±0.005 and 0.031±0.001 for the cells induced with BMP-9 and HGF

significantly higher than the GFP-induced cells (0.013±0.002).And for CK18

the △△Ct were 0.094±0.003 and 0.083±0.007 for the cells after BMP-9 and HGF transfection

significantly higher than the GFP-induced cells (0.040±0.008). Cellular immune fluorescence assay showed that the specific markers of mature hepatocyte

ALB and CK18 were strongly expressed in 7 d after induction

but no expression was observed in the GFP-induced cells. Luciferase assay indicated that the expression of ALB in 1

4 and 7 d were 5 509.35±213.08

33 198.14±666.39 and 50 815.03±1 730.75 respectively after BMP-9 induction

and 5 539.25±132.62

31 400.71±2 622.39

and 49 088.28±1 868.03 respectively after HGF induction

all were significantly higher when correspondingly compared to the cells after GFP induction (4 732.49±68.22

9 407.71±487.84

20 894.83±1 100.54

all P0.05).       Conclusion        BMP-9 induces the mouse fetal liver stem cells to different into mature hepatocytes. This effect is even similar to that of HGF

a conventional liver cell differentiation factor.