title: Mesenchymal stem cells facilitate recovery from chemically induced liver damage and decrease liver fibrosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital Taipei Branch, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yao-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jen-Wea
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Po-Cheng
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Li-Yi
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Chih-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Geng-Hong
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Tse-Min
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ru-Ping
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shinn-Zong
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Horng-Jyh
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Harn
authors.forename: Tzyy-Wen
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chiou
mesh_terms: 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