Human mesenchymal stem cell-engineered hepatic cell sheets accelerate liver regeneration in mice

Sci Rep. 2015 Nov 10:5:16169. doi: 10.1038/srep16169.

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an attractive cell source for cell therapy. Based on our hypothesis that suppression of Wnt/β-catenin signal enhances hepatic differentiation of human MSCs, we developed human mesenchymal stem cell-engineered hepatic cell sheets by a small molecule compound. Screening of 10 small molecule compounds was performed by WST assay, TCF reporter assay, and albumin mRNA expression. Consequently, hexachlorophene suppressed TCF reporter activity in time- and concentration-dependent manner. Hexachlorophene rapidly induced hepatic differentiation of human MSCs judging from expression of liver-specific genes and proteins, PAS staining, and urea production. The effect of orthotopic transplantation of human mesenchymal stem cell-engineered hepatic cell sheets against acute liver injury was examined in one-layered to three-layered cell sheets system. Transplantation of human mesenchymal stem cell-engineered hepatic cell sheets enhanced liver regeneration and suppressed liver injury. The survival rates of the mice were significantly improved. High expression of complement C3 and its downstream signals including C5a, NF-κB, and IL-6/STAT-3 pathway was observed in hepatic cell sheets-grafted tissues. Expression of phosphorylated EGFR and thioredoxin is enhanced, resulting in reduction of oxidative stress. These findings suggest that orthotopic transplantation of hepatic cell sheets manufactured from MSCs accelerates liver regeneration through complement C3, EGFR and thioredoxin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / mortality
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / therapy
  • Complement C3 / metabolism
  • Complement C5a / metabolism
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Hepatocytes / cytology
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Hepatocytes / transplantation*
  • Hexachlorophene / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Liver Regeneration / physiology*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Survival Rate
  • Thioredoxins / metabolism
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / drug effects

Substances

  • Complement C3
  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-6
  • NF-kappa B
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Thioredoxins
  • Complement C5a
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Hexachlorophene