Hepatocyte growth factor modified human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells accelerate the recovery of mouse hepatic injury

Aim: MSC-based therapies have been accepted as a promising approach for treating liver injury. Here we aimed to investigate the effect of hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) modified human umbilical cord MSCs (HGF-hucMSCs) on mouse hepatic injury. Methods: HGF transduction to hucMSCs by using adenovirus-HGF was prepared. HGF-hucMSCs were transplanted into carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-injured mice. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for the human 17a gene and fluorescence examination of green fluorescent protein positive cell were used to locate exogenous hUCMSCs in mouse livers. For evaluating the recovery of injured liver tissues, the pathological state of the hepatocytes was assessed, and survival rate of the mice was measured. Results: When transplanted into liver injured mouse, hucMSCs could located in the area of liver injury. Pathological examination revealed that the mice in HGF-hucMSCs group showed less inflammation and denaturation than those in GFP-hucMSCs group. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that the survival rate in HGF-hucMSCs group was higher than which in GFP-hucMSCs and PBS group. Moreover, the least hepatocyte apoptosis were found in HGF-hucMSCs group. Conclusions: Our results suggest that transplantation of HGF-hucMSCs can accelerate the recovery of mice hepatic injury.