Decreased collagen types I and IV, laminin, CK-19 and α-SMA expression after bone marrow cell transplantation in rats with liver fibrosis.
Bone marrow cells have frequently been tested in animal models of liver fibrosis to assess their role in hepatic regeneration. The mononuclear fraction of bone marrow cells is of particular interest, as many studies show that these cells may be beneficial to treat hepatic fibrosis. In this study, we used the bile duct ligation model to induce hepatic fibrosis in an irreversible manner, and rats were treated with bone marrow mononuclear (BMMN) cells after fibrosis was established. Analysis of collagen types I and IV, laminin and α-SMA showed a decreased expression of these proteins in fibrotic livers after 7 days of BMMN cell injection. Moreover, cytokeratin-19 analysis showed a reduction in bile ducts in the BMMN cell-treated group. These results were accompanied by ameliorated levels of hepatic enzymes GPT (Glutamic-pyruvic transaminase), GOT (glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase) and alkaline phosphatase (AP). Therefore, we showed that BMMN cells decrease hepatic fibrosis by significantly reducing myofibroblast numbers and through reduction of the collagen and laminin-rich extracellular matrix of fibrotic septa and hepatic sinusoids.
Laboratório Cultura de Células, Departamento de Histologia e Embriologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Av. Prof. Manoel de Abreu 444, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20550-170, Brazil. simonenc@yahoo.com.br
S N
SN
Carvalho
D C
DC
Lira
G P
GP
Oliveira
A A
AA
Thole
A C
AC
Stumbo
C E
CE
Caetano
R G
RG
Marques
L
L
Carvalho
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000378:metabolism*; D053539:Keratin-19 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000199:Actins; D015415:Biomarkers; D024042:Collagen Type I; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D053539:Keratin-19; D007797:Laminin; C498862:Acta2 protein, rat