JOURNAL OF PRACTICAL HEPATOLOGY ›› 2018, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (3): 376-379.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-5069.2018.03.015

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Hepatic progenitor cell transplantation accelerates spontaneous reverse of hepatic fibrosis in rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis

Chen Hui, Ren Wanlei, Yang Aiting   

  1. Department of Gastroenterology,Chaoyang Hospital,Affiliated to Capital Medical University,Beijing 100043,China
  • Received:2017-03-13 Online:2018-05-10 Published:2018-05-25

Abstract: Objective T his study was aimed to investigate the repair potential of hepatic fibrosis in rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis after hepatic progenitor cell (HPC) transplantation. Methods CCl4 was intraperitoneally injected for 4 weeks,8 weeks and 12 weeks to establish the model. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of OV6-positive HPCs in liver tissues. 14 male SD model rats were randomly divided into spontaneous reversal group (n=7) and HPCs transplantation group (n=7). HPCs transplantation was conducted by intrasplenic injection with 5×106 HPCs/0.5 ml. Liver tissues was stained with hematoxylin-eosin and sirius red,and histopathological changes were observed. The expression of OV6 and α-smooth muscle agonists(α-SMA) in liver tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining,and the α-SMA and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 were detected by Western bloting. Serum type I collagen and albumin levels were measured by ELISA. Results The number of OV6 positive cells in liver tissues reached the peak at 8 weeks after intraperitoneal injection of CCl4,and decreased at 12 weeks;the degree of fibrosis was reduced in HPCs-transplanted group,and the area of collagen was significantly decreased as compared with in the spontaneous reversal group[(3.14±0.99) vs.(5.05±0.89),P<0.05];the relative quantification of α-SMA [(1.22±0.10) vs. (0.31±0.08)] and TIMP-1 protein [(0.43±0.09) vs.(0.25±0.032)] in spontaneous reversal group was much higher as compared with in HPCs transplantation group;serum type I collagen levels in the spontaneous reversal group was higher than in the HPCs transplantation group[(41.33±8.08) ng/ml vs.(31.12±10.08) ng/ml,P<0.05]. serum albumin levels in spontaneous reversal group was remarkably lower than that in the HPCs transplanta-tion group [(33.18±4.69) g/L vs. (48.30±2.15) g/L,P<0.05]. Conclusion Hepatic progenitor cell transplantation have the potential to accelerate the reverse of liver fibrosis and improve liver function in rats with liver fibrosis.

Key words: Liver fibrosis, Hepatic progenitor cells, Cell transplantation, Rats