Role of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in the regulation of activation and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cell

Objective　To evaluate the role of human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) in the regulation of activation and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells (LX-2 cells), and analyze its possible mechanisms. Methods　The UC-MSCs were isolated and co-cultured with LX-2 cells with the ratio of 1:1 or 3:1(co-cultured or by Transwell). The effects of UCMSCs on the activation and apoptosis of LX-2 cells were analyzed by FACS analysis. Results　HE, oil red O, alkaline phosphatase staining and phenotype detection showed that the UC-MSCs in our work met the standards of MSCs. In vitro, the ratio of LX-2 cells that expressed α-SMA was 52.7%, 43.9%(1:1) and 34.2%(3:1), 50.9% (1:1) and 31.2%(3:1) respectively, when LX-2 cells were cultured alone, co-cultured with UC-MSCs and cultured by Transwell. The inhibitory effect of UC-MSCs on the activation of LX-2 cells did not be reversed by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). When LX-2 cells co-cultured with UC-MSCs by Transwell with the ratio of 1:1 and 1:3, the ratio of Annexin V+ LX-2 cells increased from 7.1% to 14.9% and 12.8% as compared with that when the cells were cultured alone (P<0.01). Conclusion　Human UC-MSCs can inhibit the activation, and induce the apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells, which might be attributed to the secretion of cytokines, but not the cellular contact. Such effect can provide an important theoretical basis for the treatment of liver fibrosis by using MSCs. DOI: 10.11855/j.issn.0577-7402.2014.01.03