Objective: To observe the effect of Rougan Huaqian granules combined with human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) transplantation on the liver fibrosis in carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhosis rats.
Methods: Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups. The rats in control group received intraperitoneal injection of saline, while those in model control group, treatment group A, group B and group C received intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride oily solution to induce liver cirrhosis within 8 weeks. Then, the rats in the model control group, treatment group A, treatment group B, treatment group C received vein tail injection of saline, Rougan Huaqian granules, hMSC suspension and Rougan Huaqian granules combined with hMSC suspension.
Results: The treatment groups had significantly different liver function (AST levels), liver fibrosis index (laminin and HA), hepatic sinusoidal wallsα-smooth muscle actin, IV collagen and laminin protein expression and I, III collagen from the model group (P<0.05). The transplanted cells showed human hepatocyte-like cells differentiation trend in the liver.
Conclusions: The Rougan Huaqian granules combined with hMSC transplantation can alleviate liver fibrosis in cirrhosis rats.
Keywords: Cirrhosis; Human cord blood mesenchymal stem cells; Rougan Huaqian granules; Transplantation; Treatment.
Copyright © 2014 Hainan Medical College. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.