Stem Cells Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Stem Cells, including details on research, transplants, therapy, benefits.

Transplantation of bone marrow-derived hepatocyte stem cells transduced with adenovirus-mediated IL-10 gene reverses liver fibrosis in rats.

Lan L, Chen Y, Sun C, Sun Q, Hu J, Li D

Digestive Disease Laboratory and Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.

Bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation alone may not be sufficient for treatment of liver fibrosis because of complicated histopathologic changes in the liver. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an anti-fibrosis cytokine. IL-10 gene transfer of beta2m(-)/Thy-1+ bone marrow-derived hepatocyte stem cells (BDHSCs) may be useful for treating liver fibrosis. To determine the effect of liver fibrosis in rats by transplanting BDHSCs transduced with adenovirus-mediated IL-10 gene (AdIL-10), rat BDHSCs were isolated by magnetic bead cell sorting, characterized for liver-associated phenotypes, transduced with AdIL-10, and transplanted into liver-fibrotic rats. We show that BDHSCs secreted high-level IL-10 and retained their albumin expression after AdIL-10 transfer in vitro. Intra-portal-infused BDHSCs were implanted into the liver 2 weeks after transplantation. Transplanting AdIL-10-transduced BDHSCs into liver-fibrotic rats downregulated inflammatory response, promoted liver regeneration, suppressed activation of hepatic stellate cells and improved liver histopathology and liver function. These findings demonstrated the potential utility of this novel combined strategy of IL-10 gene and BDHSCs for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

Published 1 May 2008 in Transpl Int, 21(6): 581-92.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Stem Cells Research Today. All Rights Reserved.