The Therapeutic Potential of Human Liver-Derived Stem Cells Transplantation in Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Rat Liver Cirrhotic Model
1Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 2Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center, Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
Meeting: 2020 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: D-302
Keywords: Fibrosis, Hepatocytes, Liver cirrhosis, Stem cells
Session Information
Session Name: Poster Session D: Cellular Therapies, Tissue Engineering / Regenerative Medicine
Session Type: Poster Session
Date: Saturday, May 30, 2020
Session Time: 3:15pm-4:00pm
Presentation Time: 3:30pm-4:00pm
Location: Virtual
*Purpose: Cirrhosis is a long-term consequence of chronic hepatic injury and there are no effective treatment methods. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been reported to be beneficial for the treatment of liver fibrosis. Previous studies suggested that MSCs may ameliorate fibrogenesis through the inhibition of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation. Previously we have reported that human liver-derived stem cells (HLSCs) could be isolated and expanded from donated liver not suitable for liver transplantation. They showed mesenchymal morphology and grew well under serum condition. Also they expressed some surface antigens of MSCs but neither hematopoietic nor oval cells. When they were sequentially exposed to some growth factors or cytokine, they became round or polygonal, and expressed some hepatic markers, such as albumin, 1-antitrypsin etc in the gene or protein level. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of HLSCs in improving liver fibrosis.
*Methods: Six week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with carbon tetra-chloride (CCl4) by intraperitoneal injection twice a week for 8 weeks. Rats were injected with 1.2 ml/kg CCl4 to induce liver damage and progressive liver fibrosis. HLSCs were injected into the rats through the portal vein after partial hepatectomy. After 4 weeks of HLSCs transplants, rats exhibited a significant reduction in liver fibrosis, as evidenced by Sirius Red staining, compared with rats without HLSCs transplants.
*Results: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), Collagen type 1 (Col1), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease (TIMP) and transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) were detected with real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Biochemical and histopathological analyses showed significantly increased recovery from liver damage in the transplanted group. In addition, HLSCs transplantation increased HGF, MMP-2 expression, and decreased Col1, TIMP expression, and liver fibrosis was significantly decreased.
*Conclusions: Our data suggest that HLSCs may facilitate recovery from chronic liver damage and may decrease liver fibrosis. Therefore, HLSCs are a potential option for treatment of liver cirrhosis.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Lee S, Lee J, Park H, Kim Y, Lee S. The Therapeutic Potential of Human Liver-Derived Stem Cells Transplantation in Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Rat Liver Cirrhotic Model [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2020; 20 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/the-therapeutic-potential-of-human-liver-derived-stem-cells-transplantation-in-carbon-tetrachloride-induced-rat-liver-cirrhotic-model/. Accessed May 29, 2025.« Back to 2020 American Transplant Congress