title: Effect of allogeneic umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in a rat model of hepatic cirrhosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (UCMSC) transplantation, alone or in combination with tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) on hepatic cirrhosis in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  A rat model of cirrhosis was established. Rats were divided into control, UCMSC, and UCSMC plus Tan IIA groups. Rats in the UCMSC group were injected via the tail vein with 0.2 mL Dil-labeled UCMSC suspension. Intraperitoneal Tan IIA injections (20 mg/kg) were started on the day of UCMSC transplantation in the UCMSC plus Tan IIA group, and continued for 7 consecutive days thereafter. Rats were sacrificed 1 day, 3 days, 1 month, and 3 months after transplantation and the numbers of Dil-labeled UCMSCs colonizing the liver were determined. Albumin (ALB) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were measured in venous blood, and mRNA and protein expression levels of human ALB and cytokeratin (CK)-18 in liver tissues were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum ALT levels were significantly lower and serum ALB levels significantly higher in rats in the UCMSC group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Hepatic CK-18 and ALB mRNA and protein expression levels increased after transplantation, and were significantly higher in the UCMSC plus Tan IIA group compared with the UCMSC group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human UCMSCs transplanted into rats with liver cirrhosis can grow and differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells resulting in improved liver function in vivo. Tan IIA further influenced transplantation outcomes.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaohua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yanqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000418:Albumins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053538:Keratin-18 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D053538:Keratin-18; D000410:Alanine Transaminase