Therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cells derived from different tissues on hepatic fibrosis in rats induced by CC1_4

Abstract

Objective To investigate and compare the therapeutic effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UMSCs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on hepatic fibrosis in rats induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).Methods Hepatic fibrosis model of Wistar rats were induced by subcutaneous injection of CCl4 oily mixture continuously for 10 weeks.Then the rats were randomly divided into UMSCs group,BMSCs group and control group.UMSCs group was treated by infusion,of 1 ml UMSCs suspension (2 x 109/L) via the caudal vein,BMSCs group with 1 ml BMSCs suspension,and control group with 1 ml normal saline.The treatment had last for 3 weeks.The blood of the rats was taken to measure liver function before and after the treatment.Also the hepatic tissues were taken to observe and evaluate pathological changes by HE staining.Results The levels of plasma ALT,AST and TBIL were reduced significantly in BMSCs group [(168.80 ±8.35) U/L,(352.00 ±33.64) U/L,(14.12 ±0.34)μmol/L vs.(337.40 ±14.10) U/L,(439.40±15.27) U/L,(15.52 ±0.47) μnoL/L] and UMSCs group [(163.60±7.30) U/L,(339.00 ±44.94) U/L,.(13.96 ±0.29) μnol/L vs.(337.40 ±16.21) U/L,(437.20 ±25.15) U/L,(15.54 ± 0.72) μmol/L] after transplantation,roughly the reverse condition in control group [(637.60±42.38) U/L,(525.80 ±40.20)U/L,(17.26±0.68) μmol/L vs.(337.80±13.97) U/L,(436.40 ± 23.27) U/L,(15.20 ± 0.57) μmol/L],all P ＜ 0.05.However,none of these groups had reduced the level of plasma ALB (P ＞ 0.05),As compared with control group (13.20 ± 1.79,15.90±5.28),both BMSCs group (4.70±1.57,6.00±1.70) and UMSCs group (4.30±1.79,5.90±0.82) obtained better pathological evaluations of the inflammation mobility as well as the degree of hepatic fibrosis (P ＜ 0.05).And there was no significant difference between UMSCs group and BMSCs group (P ＞0.05).Conclusion The transplantation of UMSCs can improve liver function and alleviate liver fibrosis in rats,slightly better than BMSCs. Key words: Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem ceils; Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells; Hepatic fibrosis; Cell transplantation