Cumulative Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Heme Oxygenase-1 Inducer in Ameliorating Induced Liver Toxicity in Rats

Abstract

Liver diseases are most commonly occurring nowadays, that’s why we are in argent need to develop new strategies in treatment. to evaluate the role of MSCs in regenerating liver cells and to clarify the anti-inflammatory role of HO-1 either alone or as a combined therapy with MSCs. 72 rats were divided into seven groups (n=10 rats/group) as follows, group1: control rats, group 2: CCL₄, group 3: CCL₄ that received MSCs group 4: CCL₄ that received HO-1 inhibitor, group 5: CCL₄ that received HO-1 inducer, group 6: CCL₄ that received combined MSCs and HO-1 inhibitor , and group 7: CCL₄ that received combined MSCs and HO-1 inducer. All groups were evaluated histopathologically with assessment of liver functions. The combined MSCs and HO-1 inducer group showed the highest significant results in ALT (p-value ˂0.05), albumin (p-value ˂0.05), HO-1 activity (p-value ˂0.0001), and genes expression compared to other groups.  This is due to the cumulative anti-inflammatory role of both MSCs and HO-1 together with the ability of MSCs to increase the HO-1 expression with further reduction in inflammation and fibrosis. MSCs and HO-1 inducer provide promising tool in treatment of liver disease.