ABSTRACT
<b>Background and Objective:</b> Liver fibrosis (LF) is a most common pathological process characterized by the activation of hepatocytes leading to the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). Hypoxia precondition treated in MSCs (H-MSCs) could enhance their immunomodulatory and regeneration capability, through expressing robust anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors, known as H-MSCs secretome (SH-MSCs) that are critical for the improvement of liver fibrosis. However, the study regarding the efficacy and mechanism of action of SH-MSCs in ameliorating liver fibrosis is still inconclusive. In this study, the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanism for SH-MSCs in the treatment of liver fibrosis were investigated. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> A rat model with liver fibrosis induced by CCl<sub>4</sub> was created and maintained for 8 weeks. The rats received intravenous doses of SH-MSCs and secretome derived from normoxia MSCs (SN-MSCs), filtered using a tangential flow filtration (TFF) system with different molecular weight cut-off categories, both at a dosage of 0.5 mL. The ELISA assay was employed to examine the cytokines and growth factors present in both SH-MSCs and SN-MSCs. On the ninth day, the rats were euthanized and liver tissues were collected for subsequent histological examination and analysis of mRNA expression. <b>Results:</b> The ELISA test revealed that SH-MSCs exhibited higher levels of VEGF, PDGF, bFGF, IL-10, TGF-ß and IL-6 compared to SN-MSCs. <i>In vivo</i>, administration of SH-MSCs notably decreased mortality rates. It also demonstrated a reduction in liver fibrosis, collagen fiber areas, α-SMA positive staining and relative mRNA expression of TGF-ß. Conversely, SN-MSCs also contributed to liver fibrosis improvement, although SH-MSCs demonstrated more favorable outcomes. <b>Conclusion:</b> Current findings suggested that SH-MSCs could improve CCl<sub>4</sub>-induced liver fibrosis and decrease α-SMA and TGF-ß expression.
Subject(s)
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation , Mesenchymal Stem Cells , Rats , Animals , Liver Regeneration , Secretome , Liver Cirrhosis/metabolism , Fibrosis , Hypoxia/metabolism , Hypoxia/pathology , Transforming Growth Factor beta/adverse effects , Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism , Disease Models, Animal , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/pathology , RNA, Messenger/metabolismABSTRACT
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterised by mucocutaneous pigmentation, gastrointestinal polyps and an increased risk of gastrointestinal and other cancers. We report an Indonesian woman, aged 28, with black spots on her lips who had multiple polyps extending from the stomach to the rectum. Her father and a son also had mucocutaneous lesions but they did not undergo gastrointestinal investigations. All three had mutations in the serine/threonine kinase 11 gene (STK11).
