Therapy with bone marrow cells reduces liver alterations in mice chronically infected by Schistosoma mansoni.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the potential of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MCs) in the regeneration of hepatic lesions induced by Schistosoma mansoni (S.mansoni) chronic infection.


METHODS
Female mice chronically infected with S.mansoni were treated with BM-MCs obtained from male green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic mice by intravenous or intralobular injections. Control mice received injections of saline in similar conditions. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay for transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for GFP DNA, immunofluorescence and morphometric studies were performed.


RESULTS
Transplanted GFP(+) cells migrated to granuloma areas and reduced the percentage of liver fibrosis. The presence of donor-derived cells was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis for detection of cells bearing Y chromosome and by PCR analysis for detection of GFP DNA. The levels of TGF-beta, a cytokine associated with fibrosis deposition, in liver fragments of mice submitted to therapy were reduced. The number of oval cells in liver sections of S.mansoni-infected mice increased 3-4 fold after transplantation. A partial recovery in albumin expression, which is decreased upon infection with S.mansoni, was found in livers of infected mice after cellular therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, transplanted BMCs migrate to and reduce the damage of chronic fibrotic liver lesions caused by S.mansoni.
Centro de Pesquisas Goncalo Moniz, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Waldemar Falcao 121, Brotas, Salvador 40295-001, BA, Brazil.
Sheilla Andrade
SA
Oliveira
Bruno-Solano-Freitas
BS
Souza
Carla-Adriana
CA
Guimaraes-Ferreira
Elton-Sa
ES
Barreto
Siane-Campos
SC
Souza
Luiz-Antonio-Rodrigues
LA
Freitas
Ricardo
R
Ribeiro-Dos-Santos
Milena-Botelho-Pereira
MB
Soares
D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
D000418:Albumins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins