Improvement of host liver cell function by bone marrow cells transplantation

Objective To investigate whether bone marrow cells (BMCs) transplantation could promote the restoration of the injured liver in Nagase' s analbttminemic rats. Methods Fischer 344 rats(F344) and congenic Nagase' s analbuminemic rats (F344alb) were respectively used as donors and recipients. F344alb received pyrrolizidine alkaloid retrorsine (RS) (30 mg/kg, I. P.) two times, once 2 weeks. Four weeks later,1 x 107 BMCs or 2 x 106 hepatocytes from F344 were transplanted into portal vein immediately after 2/3 partial hepatectomy (PH). F344alb rats were divided into following groups: neither RS/PH treatment nor cells transplantation (Group Ⅰ ,n = 5 ) ;BMCs transplantation alone (Group Ⅱ , n =8 ) ; RS/PH treatment alone (Group Ⅲ ,n = 8 ) ;BMCs transplantation with RS/PH treatment (GroupⅣ, n= 8) ;hepatocytes transplantation with RS/PH treatment ( Group Ⅴ, n = 8 ). Morphological, histochemical and serological examinations for recipients' liver function and serum albumin were performed post-PH. The normal albumin gene was detected respectively from recipients' liver and bone marrow. Results Survival rate was significantly increased by BMCs transplantation, but not increased by hepatocytes transplantation. Both BMCs and hepatocytes transplantation stimulated liver regeneration. TB and ALT were significantly increased in rats of groups Ⅲ and Ⅴ at day 1,2 post-PH. BMCs transplantation could proteet the liver function after being damaged by RS-exposed and PH. Clusters of hepatocytcs were detected in livers of groups Ⅳ and Ⅴ at 4th week post-PH. Normal albumin gene sequence was detected in the liver of groups Ⅳ and Ⅴ. Serum albumin levels were increased in groups Ⅳ and Ⅴ . Conclusion F344-defived BMCs transplantation could promote the restoration of the injured liver in F344alb, and increase the survival rate in serious liver-damaged. Key words: Transplantation;  Bone marrow cell;  Hepatocytes;  Albumin