ABSTRACT
Liver fibrosis is seen as scar formation and considered as a sign of hepatic injury in many chronic liver diseases. Currently there is no effective treatment available. Human umbilical cord blood [HUCB] contains stem / progenitor cells, which can differentiate into a variety of cell types. They can differentiate into hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo and can ameliorate fives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of HUCB stem cells on fibrosis formation induced by carbon tetrachloride [CC14] and on liver function in mice. Hepatic fibrosis was induced by CC14. HLCB stem cells were infused systemically through the tail vein immediately [group 1] or after one week of receiving CC14 [group 2]. Group 3 received only CC14. Administration of CC14 was continued for 10 weeks in G1, G2 and G3, while group 4 [control mice] received only saline infusion for 10 weeks. After that blood from all groups was collected for assessment of the liver function, then all mice were sacrificed under anesthesia, and the liver was taken for histopathological examination. It was found that the level of alanine aminotransferase [ALT] in mice treated with stem cells alter CC14 administration was significantly lower while s. albumin was significantly higher compared to group 3 animals who received CC14 without stem cell treatment [P=0.001], whereas serum total and direct bilirubin levels were similar among all groups. Histological examination revealed that hepatic damage was less in the stem cell treated mice [G1 and G2] than in the non treated group [as regards the liver cell changes, portal tract inflammation, piecemeal necrosis, portal tract fibrosis and bridging fibrosis]. The results were statistically significant. However, liver inflammation and fibrosis were more in mice treated after 1 week than in immediately treated mice. The results suggest that HUCB stem cells can improve liver function and ameliorate liver fibrosis in mice