Treatment of liver injury by subcapsular transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells guided by B ultrasound in rats

Objective Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells( MSCs) may be a useful therapeutic approach for liver disorders,but there is not a satisfactory route of transplanting MSCs into liver yet. The research was to study a method of transplanting large quantity of MSCs into liver subcapsule of rats by transcutaneous intra-subcapsule injection guided by B ultrasound and its therapeutic effect on liver injury. Methods The model rats of liver injury were established by subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride( CCl4) for 8 weeks.( 1) Initial transplantation( performed on exposed liver by operation) : Liver-injured rats were divided into MSCs transplant group and liver injury control group by injecting collagen solution with MSCs or without MSCs into liver subcapsule to form collagen gel cyst respectively. In addition,normal rats were injected collagen solution without MSCs,as normal control group.( 2) Second and third transplantations: the initial transplantations were repeated but were performed by transcutaneous intra-gel cyst injection under guidance of B ultrasound without collagen. At 1 week after 3rd transplant,liver index and plasma levels of albumin( Alb),total bilirubin( TBil) and alanine transaminase( ALT) were examined. Results Level of Alb in MSCs transplant group was significantly higher than that in liver injury control group( P 0. 05). Value of liver index and levels of ALT,TBil of tMSCs transplant group were significantly lower than those of liver injury control group( P 0. 05).Conclusion MSCs could be transplanted into subcapsule of liver in large quantity by the transcutaneous intra-gel cyst injection guided by B ultrasound. This method could improve liver functions of liver-injured rats.