Reversal of established liver fibrosis by IC-2-engineered mesenchymal stem cell sheets

Sci Rep. 2019 May 2;9(1):6841. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-43298-0.

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis viral infection, alcoholic intoxication, and obesity cause liver fibrosis, which progresses to decompensated liver cirrhosis, a disease for which medical demands cannot be met. Since there are currently no approved anti-fibrotic therapies for established liver fibrosis, the development of novel modalities is required to improve patient prognosis. In this study, we clarified the anti-fibrotic effects of cell sheets produced from human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) incubated on a temperature-sensitive culture dish with the chemical compound IC-2. Orthotopic transplantation of IC-2-engineered MSC sheets (IC-2 sheets) remarkably reduced liver fibrosis induced by chronic CCl4 administration. Further, the marked production of fibrolytic enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-14, as well as thioredoxin, which suppresses hepatic stellate cell activation, was observed in IC-2 sheets. Moreover, the anti-fibrotic effect of IC-2 sheets was much better than that of MSC sheets. Finally, knockdown experiments revealed that MMP-14 was primarily responsible for the reduction of liver fibrosis. Here, we show that IC-2 sheets could be a promising therapeutic option for established liver fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology*
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds / pharmacology
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / metabolism
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / therapy
  • Collagen Type I / metabolism
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Hexachlorophene / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Liver Cirrhosis / metabolism
  • Liver Cirrhosis / therapy*
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / metabolism
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 / metabolism
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds
  • Collagen Type I
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 1
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 14
  • Hexachlorophene