Liver fibrosis can develop on the background of hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus. However, xenobiotic-related factors may accelerate diabetes-associated liver fibrosis. In this study, we aimed to assess the antfibrotic effect of ADSC and HGF therapy and to establish the cellular and molecular mechanisms through in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro, TGF-β1-activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were cocultured with ADSCs or HGF, and the expression of several fibrosis markers was investigated. The antifibrotic effect of the ADSCs, HGF, and ADSCs supplemented with HGF was further assessed in vivo on diabetic mice with liver fibrosis experimentally induced. In vitro results showed the inhibition of HSC proliferation and decrease in fibrogenesis markers. Coadministration of ADSCs and HGF on diabetic mice with liver fibrosis enhanced antifibrotic effects confirmed by the downregulation of Col I, α-SMA, TGF-β1, and Smad2, while Smad7 was upregulated. Moreover, stem cell therapy supplemented with HGF considerably attenuated inflammation and microvesicular steatosis, decreased collagen deposits, and alleviated liver fibrosis. In conclusion, the HGF-based ADSC therapy might be of interest for the treatment of liver fibrosis in diabetic patients, consecutive aggression exerts by different environmental factors.
Keywords: TGF-β/Smad pathway; adipose-derived stem cells; diabetes mellitus; hepatic stellate cells; hepatocyte growth factor; liver fibrosis.