Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation via the hepatic artery for the treatment of advanced liver diseases

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Stem cel transplantation is a promising treatment for advanced liver diseases, and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cels are a hot topic folowing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels.

To explore the therapeutic effect of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cels transplantationvia the hepatic artery on advanced liver diseases in rats.

Forty-five rats were randomized into three groups, 15 rats in each group control group, model group and transplantation group. Rat models of liver cirrhosis were made in the latter two groups through subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride. Then, 1 mL of CFSE-labeled adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cels was infusedvia the hepatic artery in the transplantation group, and the same volume of normal saline was infused in the model group. Control group had no treatment. Pathological changes, liver function and degree of hepatic fibrosis were observed in the three groups at 4 weeks after treatment. RESULTS AND

After transplantation, green fluorescence-labeled adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cels were seen in the liver of rats. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining showed unclear hepatic lobule structure in the model group with the formation of false lobules, cel cloudy sweling and loose, some degeneration and necrosis, and inflammatory cel infiltration; in the control group, there was nothing abnormal in the liver tissues of rats in the control group; in the transplantation group, the pathological changes of the rat liver were better than those in the model group, but worse than those in the control group. Compared with the model group, the level of serum albumin was higher in the control and transplantation group (P < 0.05), and the levels of bilirubin, aminotransferase and type IV colagen were lower in the control and transplantation group (P < 0.05). Thus, it can be seen that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cel transplantation can improve liver function and reduce liver fibrosis in cirrhotic rats.