Experimental study on treatment of liver fibrosis by hepatic oval cell transplantation via spleen injection

Abstract

Objective To investigate the feasibility of hepatic oval cells transplantation to treat liver fibrosis. Methods The transgenic C57BL/6 mice carried green fluorescent protein, were incorporated DDC in a standard chow at a concentration of 0.1% to activate the oval cells proliferation. Then the cells were separaled by in situ pedusion, and Sea-1 + cells were sorted with Sea-1 antibody conjuncted with magnetic beads . The mice were injected subcutaneously with CCI4 to establish experimental liver cirrhosis. Different groups of mice were transplanted with hepatic oval cells or saline by spleen injection. Four weeks later, the liver function index and histopathological change among the groups were compared to evaluate the effect of hepatic oval cells transplantation. Result A majority of hepatic oval cells, which were transplanted via transplenic injection into liver, were planted in the portal area. After transplantation, the function index and histopathologicalchange were improved in the experimental group, especially in the group of ceasing CCl4 injection. Conclusion After transplanted into the liver by spleen injection, hepatic oval cells could plant in the portal area, which improve liver function and alleviate the cirrhosis level. Key words: Hepatoeytes/TR ; Stem cell transplantation; Spleen/TR; Liver cirrhosis/SU