Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived hepatocytes improve the mouse liver after acute acetaminophen intoxication by preventing progress of injury

Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Apr 22;15(4):7004-28. doi: 10.3390/ijms15047004.

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells from human bone marrow (hMSC) have the potential to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in vitro and continue to maintain important hepatocyte functions in vivo after transplantation into host mouse livers. Here, hMSC were differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells in vitro (hMSC-HC) and transplanted into livers of immunodeficient Pfp/Rag2⁻/⁻ mice treated with a sublethal dose of acetaminophen (APAP) to induce acute liver injury. APAP induced a time- and dose-dependent damage of perivenous areas of the liver lobule. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increased to similar levels irrespective of hMSC-HC transplantation. Yet, hMSC-HC resided in the damaged perivenous areas of the liver lobules short-term preventing apoptosis and thus progress of organ destruction. Disturbance of metabolic protein expression was lower in the livers receiving hMSC-HC. Seven weeks after APAP treatment, hepatic injury had completely recovered in groups both with and without hMSC-HC. Clusters of transplanted cells appeared predominantly in the periportal portion of the liver lobule and secreted human albumin featuring a prominent quality of differentiated hepatocytes. Thus, hMSC-HC attenuated the inflammatory response and supported liver regeneration after acute injury induced by acetaminophen. They hence may serve as a novel source of hepatocyte-like cells suitable for cell therapy of acute liver diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen / toxicity
  • Animals
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / etiology
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / therapy*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Hepatocytes / cytology
  • Hepatocytes / transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Liver Regeneration
  • Male
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Mice
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Rag2 protein, mouse
  • Acetaminophen
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases