Therapeutic Potential of Mouse Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Carbon Tetrachloride (Ccl4)-Induced Liver Fibrosis

Purpose: To study the effect of allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) transplantation on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice. Materials and Methods: Fifty five female NMRI mice were divided in 5 groups, and to induce liver fibrosis CCL4 intraperitonealy was injected 1ml/Kg twice a week for 8 weeks 106 allogenic BMMSCs were infused in cell therapy group via tail vain at the end of 4th weeks. Liver samples were taken and evaluated with histopathologic and immunofluorescence techniques to determine the amount of fibrosis, cell homing and identity of the cells. Mice serum albumin level was measured as well. Results: In the cell therapy group the amount of liver fibrosis and mortality rate decreased significantly (2.24±0.51% vs 3.48±0.6%, P<0.05 and 27.3% vs 45.5%), respectively but there was no significant difference between their serum albumin level. These results were in compliance with low proportion of transplanted cells capable of producing albumin (0.23±0.08% of liver cells).Because most transplanted cells were found in periportal area; they did not produce albumin.Conclusion: It seems that the major role of BMMSCs to reduce CCL4-induced liver fibrosis does not occur by their differentiation into hepatocyte but rather through other interaction pathways with injured liver tissue.