Mesenchymal stem cells facilitate recovery from chemically induced liver damage and decrease liver fibrosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the feasibility and mechanism of liver damage repair using human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMMSCs), we investigated the potential for hBMMSCs in recovery from liver damage, including fibrotic liver repair, using the CCl(4)-induced model for liver damage in the rat.


METHODS
Rats were injected with 0.5 ml/kg CCl(4) to induce liver damage and progressive liver fibrosis. hBMMSCs labeled with GFP were injected into the rats through the portal vein.


RESULTS
After one day of transplantation, GFP-labeled cells were found around the liver lobules, the hepatic blood vessels, and the edge of the liver lobes. Biochemical and histopathological analyses showed significantly increased recovery from liver damage in the transplanted group. In addition, transplanted hBMMSCs express matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), and liver fibrosis was significantly decreased. The degree of fibrosis reduction paralleled the number of hBMMSCs observed in liver sections.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that hBMMSCs may facilitate recovery from chronic liver damage and may decrease liver fibrosis. Therefore, hBMMSCs are a potential option for treatment of liver cirrhosis.
Chang
Yao-Jen
YJ
Department of Surgery, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital Taipei Branch, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Liu
Jen-Wea
JW
Lin
Po-Cheng
PC
Sun
Li-Yi
LY
Peng
Chih-Wen
CW
Luo
Geng-Hong
GH
Chen
Tse-Min
TM
Lee
Ru-Ping
RP
Lin
Shinn-Zong
SZ
Harn
Horng-Jyh
HJ
Chiou
Tzyy-Wen
TW
D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats