人羊膜间充质干细胞移植修复肝脏缺血-再灌注损伤

Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for the repair of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells, suggesting that human amniotic mesenchymal stem cell transplantation provides a new potential for the clinical treatment of liver diseases. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on the repair of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury repair. METHODS:Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into stem cell transplantation, model and control groups. Animal models of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury were made in the rats in the stem cell transplantation and model groups. One hour after modeling, rats in the stem cell transplantation were given injection of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (0.5 mL, 106 cells) via the tail vein, while rats in the model and control group were given L-DMEM (0.5 mL) or normal saline (0.5 mL), respectively. Liver function and liver morphology were detected at 1, 2, 3 weeks after transplantation. Meanwhile, RT-PCR detection and western blot assay were also conducted. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Liver function: Compared with the control group, levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and malondialdehyde were significantly increased in the model group at different time points after transplantation (P < 0.05), while a significant reduction in the levels of these three indicators was found after cell transplantation as compared with the model group (P < 0.05). (2) Liver morphology: 2 weeks after transplantation, rats in the model group exhibited hepatocyte degeneration and necrosis, and severe fibrosis, but these changes were remarkably alleviated in the stem cell transplantation group. (3) PT-PCR and western blot detection: 2 weeks after transplantation, a significantly higher level of hepatocyte growth factor in the liver tissue and a lower level of α-smooth muscle protein were found in the stem cell transplantation group compared with the model group (P < 0.05). All these experimental findings indicate that human amniotic mesenchymal stem cell transplantation can improve impaired liver function in rats, possibly through regulating hepatocyte growth factor and α-smooth muscle protein expression levels in the liver, and thereby promotes the repair of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury.