The role and mechanism of BMMSCs in reduced-size liver transplantation of rats / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) on liver transplantation with 50% reduced-size in rat models.Methods:For 40 normal male Brown Norway(BN) and Lewis rats weighing 210-250 g were included respectively to generate the acute rejection models following 50% reduced-size liver transplantation in rats. The recipients were divided into BMMSCs group ( n=20) and normal saline group ( n=20). Healthy male BN rats were used to prepare BMMSCs. Transplanted liver tissues were collected at 0h, 1d, 3d, 7d post the transplantation for further analysis. Pathological changes and the extent of rejection were evaluated under the light microscope. The levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light 3 (LC3) and autophagy regulator Beclin-1 proteins were detected by immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting. Results:Rejection activity indices of the normal saline group at 0d, 3d, 7d after the surgery were (2.33±0.58), (4.00±0.00), (6.33±0.58). The BMMSCs group were (2.10±0.58), (3.73±0.58), (5.67±1.15), which was decreased comparing with normal saline group, difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). On the 1d, 3d, 7d after the transplantation, compared with normal saline group, expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3 and Beclin-1 in BMMSCs group was increased ( P<0.05). Conclusions:It showed that autophagy has an effect on the protection of BMMSCs liver graft of rats.