RÉSUMÉ
We investigated the effect of bone marrow-derived stem cell [BMSC] transplantation on carbon tetrachloride [CCl [4]]-induced liver fibrosis. BMSCs of green fluorescent protein [GFP] mice were transplanted into 4-week CCl [4] -treated C57BL/6 mice directly to the liver, and the mice were treated for 4 more weeks with CCl [4] [total, 8 weeks]. After sacrificing the animals, quantitative data of percentage fibrosis area and the number of cells expressing albumin was obtained. One-way analysis of variance was applied to calculate the significance of the data. GFP expressing cells clearly indicated migrated BMSCs with strong expression of albumin after 28 days post-transplantation shown by anti-albumin antibody. Double fluorescent immunohistochemistry showed reduced expression of alpha SMA on GFP-positive cells. Four weeks after BMSC transplantation, mice had significantly reduced liver fibrosis as compared with that of mice treated with CCl [4] assessed by Sirius red staining. Mice with BMSC transplantation with continuous CCl [4] injection had reduced liver fibrosis and a significantly improved expression of albumin compared with mice treated with CCl [4] alone. These findings strengthen the concept of cellular therapy in liver fibrosis