Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation via the tail vein for acute liver failure in rats / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells can protect and repair the liver of rats with liver failure, but the mechanisms are not completely clear. OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effects and related mechanisms of intravenous injection of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on acute liver failure in rats. METHODS: Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats (provided by Qingdao Daren Fucheng Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd. in China) were randomly divided into control group, model group and transplantation group. Animal models of acute liver failure were established by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine in the model group and the transplantation group. One day after modeling, the rats in the transplantation group were injected with human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell suspension, and those in the model group were injected with the same amount of saline. After 1 and 3 days of cell transplantation, the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin were measured. Three days after cell transplantation, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 were detected, the pathological changes of the rat liver were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3β protein in the liver tissue was detected by western blot. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the model group, there was a significant reduction in the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 in the transplantation group (P < 0.05). Inflammation and necrosis of liver tissues in the transplant group were alleviated compared with the model group. The activity of glycogen synthase kinase 3β in the liver tissue of the transplanted group was lower than that of the model group (P < 0.05). Overall, these results indicate that human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells can alleviate hepatic inflammation and pathological injury, and improve the liver function in rats with acute hepatic failure. Moreover, the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3β activity.