骨髓间充质干细胞逆转肝纤维化的研究进展

Effect of Rougan Huaqian granules combined with human mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on liver fibrosis in cirrhosis rats

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of Rougan Huaqian granules combined with human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) transplantation on the liver fibrosis in carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhosis rats.

METHODS

Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups. The rats in control group received intraperitoneal injection of saline, while those in model control group, treatment group A, group B and group C received intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride oily solution to induce liver cirrhosis within 8 weeks. Then, the rats in the model control group, treatment group A, treatment group B, treatment group C received vein tail injection of saline, Rougan Huaqian granules, hMSC suspension and Rougan Huaqian granules combined with hMSC suspension.

RESULTS

The treatment groups had significantly different liver function (AST levels), liver fibrosis index (laminin and HA), hepatic sinusoidal wallsα-smooth muscle actin, IV collagen and laminin protein expression and I, III collagen from the model group (P<0.05). The transplanted cells showed human hepatocyte-like cells differentiation trend in the liver.

CONCLUSIONS

The Rougan Huaqian granules combined with hMSC transplantation can alleviate liver fibrosis in cirrhosis rats.

Effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on the Smad expression of hepatic fibrosis rats

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on Smad expression of hepatic fibrosis rats.

METHODS

A total of 48 adult female SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, normal control group (n=10), observation group (n=19) with liver fibrosis model rats injected with BMSCs cells; model group (n=19), with liver fibrosis model rats injected with physiological saline. Serum index, TGF-β1 and Smad expression were detected.

RESULTS

Type III procollagen, IV collagen, hyaluronic acid, laminin levels of observation group were significantly lower than those of model group (P<0.05). The content and expression of TGF-β1 in serum and liver tissue of observation group were significantly lower than those of model group(P<0.05). Compared with normal control group, the Smad3, Smad4 mRNA and protein expression of model group were significantly increased, the Smad7 mRNA and protein expression were significantly reduced (P<0.05). Compared with model group, Smad3, Smad4 mRNA and protein expression of observation group were significantly reduced, and Smad7 mRNA expression were significantly increased (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

BMSCs can regulate Smad expression to some extent, and reduce the degree of liver fibrosis.

Plasticity of hepatic stellate cells: implications for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis

Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) plays an important role in hepatic fibrogenesis. More and more experimental and clinical data have shown that HSCs have the capacity of multi-directional differentiation in special niches. Hepatic fibrosis may be prevented and reversed in part, if not all, by changing HSC fate. Thus, the research of HSC plasticity may break a new path for therapy of chronic hepatic diseases. This review aims to elucidate the origin, structure and plasticity of HSCs, and identify HSCs as a potential therapeutic target for liver fibrosis.