Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells promote hepatic regeneration after partial hepatectomy in rats

Abstract

Objectives: Our goal was to study the ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to stimulate liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in rats.

Methods: MSCs were isolated from bone marrow and cultured in vitro. Their characteristics were analyzed by flow cytometry. After 70% partial hepatectomy, Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: a control group that was injected with saline, animals that received bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) by tail vein injection (the BM-MSC-TV group) and animals that received BM-MSCs by portal vein injection (the BM-MSC-PV group). The injected BM-MSCs were traced by labeling with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, and cell proliferations were determined by immunohistochemical staining with Ki-67 and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine.

Results: After the third passage, the cultured BM-MSCs had a fibroblast-like morphology and expressed high levels of stem cell markers CD29 and CD90. The levels of albumin rose significantly in the BM-MSC-TV and BM-MSC-PV groups compared with the control group. The number of 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-positive liver cells in the BM-MSC-PV group was significantly higher than in the BM-MSC-TV group. The levels of Ki-67 and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine were significantly higher in the BM-MSC-TV and the BM-MSC-PV groups than in the controls.

Conclusion: Taken together, these results indicate that BM-MSC injections enhance liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in rats.