title: CD133(+) human umbilical cord blood stem cells enhance angiogenesis in experimental chronic hepatic fibrosis.
abstract: The in vivo angiogenic potential of transplanted human umbilical cord blood (UCB) CD133(+) stem cells in experimental chronic hepatic fibrosis induced by murine schistosomiasis was studied. Enriched cord blood-derived CD133(+) cells were cultured in primary medium for 3 weeks. Twenty-two weeks post-Schistosomiasis infection in mice, after reaching the chronic hepatic fibrotic stage, transplantation of stem cells was performed and mice were sacrificed 3 weeks later. Histopathology and electron microscopy showed an increase in newly formed blood vessels and a decrease in the fibrosis known for this stage of the disease. By immunohistochemical analysis the newly formed blood vessels showed positive expression of the human-specific angiogenic markers CD31, CD34 and von Willebrand factor. Few hepatocyte-like polygonal cells showed positive expression of human vascular endothelial growth factor and inducible nitric oxide synthase. The transplanted CD133(+) human stem cells primarily enhanced hepatic angiogenesis and neovascularization and contributed to repair in a paracrine manner by creating a permissive environment that enabled proliferation and survival of damaged cells rather than by direct differentiation to hepatocytes. A dual advantage of CD133(+) cell therapy in hepatic disease is suggested based on its capability of hematopoietic and endothelial differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Electron Microscopy, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt. nagwa_elkhafif@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Nagwa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elkhafif
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: El Baz
authors.forename: Olfat
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hammam
authors.forename: Salwa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Faten
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salah
authors.forename: Wafaa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mansour
authors.forename: Soheir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mansy
authors.forename: Hoda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yehia
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaki
authors.forename: Ranya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Magdy
mesh_terms: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D006023:Glycoproteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides; C000606024:Prom1 protein, mouse