Tonsil-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate CCl4-induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice via Autophagy Activation
- 등재 SCIE, SCOPUS
- 발행기관 NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
- 발행년도 2015
- 총서유형 Journal
- URI http://www.dcollection.net/handler/ewha/000000114945
- 본문언어 영어
- Published As http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep08616
초록/요약
Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for chronic liver failure, although it is complicated by donor shortage, surgery-related complications, and immunological rejection. Cell transplantation is an alternative, minimally invasive treatment option with potentially fewer complications. We used human palatine tonsil as a novel source of mesenchymal stem cells (T-MSCs) and examined their ability to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in vivo and in vitro. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) mouse model was used to investigate the ability of T-MSCs to home to the site of liver injury. T-MSCs were only detected in the damaged liver, suggesting that they are disease-responsive. Differentiation of T-MSCs into hepatocyte-like cells was confirmed in vitro as determined by expression of hepatocyte markers. Next, we showed resolution of liver fibrosis by T-MSCs via reduction of TGF-beta expression and collagen deposition in the liver. We hypothesized that autophagy activation was a possible mechanism for T-MSC-mediated liver recovery. In this report, we demonstrate for the first time that T-MSCs can differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells and ameliorate liver fibrosis via autophagy activation and down-regulation of TGF-beta. These findings suggest that T-MSCs could be used as a novel source for stem cell therapy targeting liver diseases.
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