Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells infusion rescue the liver failure induced by small-for-size liver transplantation in rats

Objective To explore the feasibility of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) infusion in rescuing the liver failure after the small-for-size liver transplantation in rats.Methods Rat MSCs were isolated,characterized,cultured,and then stained with cell membrane colourant PKH26.Male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group and experiment group.In control group,0.5 ml phosphate buffer(PBS) were injected via tail vein in the small-for-size(30 %) liver transplantation.In experiment group,0.5 ml PBS containing 5×105 mmol/L MSCs was injected via tail vein.On day 1,2,3,5,7 after operation,the blood,liver and spleen samples were collected.Fluorescence microscope was used to observe the distribution of MSCs in liver and spleen.Alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),one week survival rate and the ratio between transplant and primary recipient liver weight were analyzed between the two groups after transplantation.Results In the early stage after transplantation,the labeled MSCs in liver were detected in experiment group,which were firstly located around the vessel restrictedly and then dispersive in liver parenchyma in the following days.The number of labeled MSCs in spleen was gradually decreased after transplantation.Compared with control group,one week survival rate after transplantation was significantly increased in experiment group.On day 3,5,7 after operation,ALT and AST in experiment group were much lower than that in control group.On day 3,5 after operation,the ratio between transplant and primary recipient liver weight in experiment group was much higher than that in control group(P0.05-P0.01).Conclusion It suggests that the MSCs infusion can migrate to transplant liver directly and improve the transplant liver function after small-for-size liver transplantation.It is feasible to rescue liver failure after small-for-size liver transplantation with MSCs administration.