Experimental studies of BMSCs on treatment of hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats

Objective To investigate the effects of BMSCs on treatment of hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats and changes of hepatic stellate cells apoptosis.Methods Eighty Sprague - Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups,namely normal control group(group A), model group(group B),BMSCs group(group C) and silymarin group(group D).The rats of group B,group C and group D were subcutaneously injected with carbon tetrachloride for 8 weeks. Then the rats of group C were transplanted with BMSCs.The rats of group D were then administered with silymarin.The levels of serum HA,ⅣC,PⅢP,ALT,ALB of all rats were measured. The pathological changes of hepatic fibrosis and the density of collagen in liver specimens of all rats were assessed through HE and Masson staining.The hepatic stellate cells were isolated and purified. Apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells of each group of rats were measured as well.Results Compared with group B,the serum levels of HA,ⅣC,PⅢP,ALB,ALT of group A were less than 0.01(P0.01),the serum levels of HA,ⅣC,PⅢP,ALB,ALT of group C and group were less than 0. 05(P0.05).The liver tissue structure of rats of group A was normal configuration of hepatocytes without degeneration,necrosis and fatty degeneration of liver cells.Those of group B were severely damaged,a small amount of liver parenchyma fibrous tissue was hyperplasia,large amount of the liver cells became obviously steatosis,a multitude of necrotic liver cells were found in the surrounding area,and hepatic veins were obviously congested.The hepatic cells fatty degeneration and infiltration of inflammatory cells in rats of group C were reduced significantly compared with rats of group B.The pathological changes of hepatic fibrosis of group D were better than group B,but worse than group C.Compared with those in rats of group B,the semi-quantitative results of hepatic fibrosis degree were significantly decreased in group A,C,and D.Compared with group B,the ratio of apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells of group A was less than 0.01(P0.01),the ratio of apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells of group C and group D were less than 0.05(P0.05). Conclusion BMSCs have obviously therapeutic effects on hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats and increasing of hepatic stellate cells apoptosis.