ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) produced by endothelial cells, fibroblasts, fat cells and other interstitial cells, can promote angiogenesis, repair damaged tissues and resist fibrosis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are located in bone marrow and secrete a variety of cytokines and are often used in the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues. This study was aimed to investigate the influence of HGF-transfected bone marrow-derived MSCs towards renal fibrosis in rats. Methods: The HGF gene-carrying adenoviral vector (Ad-HGF) was transfected into MSCs, and the Ad-HGF-modified MSCs were transplanted into rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). The localization of renal transplanted cells in the frozen section was observed with fluorescence microscope. The Masson's trichrome staining was performed to observe the renal collagen deposition, and the immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expressions of ?-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) and HGF in renal tissues. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expressions of ?-SMA, HGF and fibronectin (FN). Results: Ad-HGF-modified MSCs could highly express HGF in vitro. On the post-transplantation 3rd, 7th and 14th day, the 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAP)-labelled transplanted cells were seen inside renal tissues. Compared with UUO group, the renal collagen deposition in transplantation group was significantly reduced, and the expressions of ?-SMA mRNA and protein were significantly decreased, while the expressions of HGF mRNA and protein were significantly increased, and the expression of FN mRNA was significantly decreased (P<0.001). Interpretation & conclusions: Trans-renal artery injection of HGF-modified MSCs can effectively reduce the renal interstitial fibrosis in UUO rat model.
ABSTRACT
The present paper deals with studies on the characteristics of Schistosoma japonicum isolated from five localities in the mainland of China. The following items were observed and compared including morphometric data, susceptibility of six mammalian hosts, prepatent period, compatibility between larvae and snail hosts, size of hepatic granuloma produced by eggs, immunoreactions in experimental animals, sensitivity to praziquantel, SDS-PAGE protein pattern and its antigenicity analysis, DNA hybridization and genetic variation and differentiation by analysis with multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. By means of these multidisciplinary methods, from morphological to molecular level, the following conclusions may be drawn from our results. The evidence indicates firstly that S. japonicum in the mainland of China comprises a strain complex with several components of geographically distributed strains. At least four distinct strains exist, ie Yunnan, Guangxi, Sichuan and Anhui-Hubei. Characteristics of each strain are distinct and the results of these studies lead to discussion on the problem of the intraspecific and interstrain differentiation of S. japonicum in the mainland of China.