Comparative Study on Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Endothelial Progenitor Cells on Treatment of Experimental CCL4 Induced Liver Fibrosis

Abstract

Abstract Background Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and human umbilical cord endothelial progenitor cells (UC-EPCs) have several benefits for liver regeneration. We speculate huge impacts of rat BM-MSCs and UC-EPCs on reversal of hepatic injury and improvement of liver function in liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Methods Forty adult rats were divided into 4 groups; control group, CCl4 group, CCl4/BM-MSCs group and CCl4/UCEPCs group. Blood samples were driven from rats at 1, 2 and 3months to measure serum concentration of albumin and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Quantitative expression of HGF,TGF-β, MMP-2, and VEGF were assessed by polymerase chain reaction. Histological examination of the liver tissue was performed. α-SMA immunohistochemistry to identify the myoepithelial cells (MECs) and Ki-67 to identify cell prolifration immunohistochemistry are detected in groups injected with cells to confirm cells regeneration. Results Regarding liver function, there was elevating albumin (P < 0.05) and reducing ALT (P < 0.05) concentrations in groups treated with BM-MSCs and UC-EPCs effect compared to untreated CCL4 group. Concerning gene expression, UC-EPCs treated group have significantly higher MMP-2 and VEGF (P < 0.01) genes expression than BM-MSCs treated group. Furthermore, UC-EPCs were more valuable than BM-MSCs in increasing gene expression of HGF (P < 0.05) and immunohistochemistry of α-SMA and Ki-67 (P < 0.01). BM-MSCs have significantly lower TGF- β (P < 0.00) compared to UC-EPCs. Conclusion This study highlighted on liver regeneration role of both human UC-EPCs and BM-MSCs in liver fibrosis by different signaling mechanistic.