title: Mesenchymal stem cells: In vivo therapeutic application ameliorates carbon tetrachloride induced liver fibrosis in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus in the world with infection rate up to 60%, for which liver fibrosis or hepatic carcinoma is the final outcome. Stem cell therapy provides a new hope for hepatic repair instead of traditional treatment, liver transplantation, as it is safer, gives long term engraftment and avoid expensive immunosuppressive drugs and unexpected hazardous effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This work aimed at determining the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in hepatic repair as a new line of therapy for liver fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  33 female albino rats were divided into three groups: Group I: 10 rats injected subcutaneously with olive oil, Group II: 13 rats injected with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and Group III: 10 rats injected with CCl4 then bone marrow derived MSC from male rats. Blood and liver tissue samples were taken from all rats for biochemical and histological study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Liver functions for group II rats showed significant deterioration in response to CCl4 in addition to significant histological changes in liver lobules and portal areas. Those parameters tend to be normal in MSC-treated group. Group III rats revealed normalized liver function and histological picture. Meanwhile, most of the pathological lesions were still detected in rats of second group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Undifferentiated MSCs have the ability to ameliorate CCl4 induced liver injury in albino rats in terms of liver functions and histological features. So, stem cell therapy can be considered clinically to offer a hope for patients suffering from liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Medical Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt. Electronic address: dr_nerminraafat@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Nermin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Raafat
authors.affiliation: Histology & Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Abdel Aal
authors.affiliation: Histology & Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Fadia K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Abdo
authors.affiliation: Histology & Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nabila M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: El Ghonaimy
mesh_terms: D000074020:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 11; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D053493:Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D029363:Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Dependent / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D027981:Symporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000074020:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 11; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; C490548:Abcb11 protein, rat; D029363:Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Dependent; D012709:Serum Albumin; D027981:Symporters; C071908:sodium-bile acid cotransporter; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; C532838:CYP7A1 protein, rat; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase; D053493:Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase; C000604971:Cyp27a1 protein, rat; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001663:Bilirubin
keywords: CCl4; Liver fibrosis; MSCs; Therapeutic effect