MVD and VEGF expression in the acute liver injury treated with allogeneic MBMCs transplantation

To investigate the dynamical expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF)and the value of microvessel density (MVD) in acute liver injury model after the transplantation of mononuclear bone marrow cells (MBMCs).

Forty-two model rabbits with acute liver injury were randomly divided into 2 groups: a transplanted group and a control group (n=21). Seven rabbits from each group were killed on day 7, 14, and 28 after the transplantation of MBMCs. A series of comparative assays were performed, including functional assay of liver, immunohistochemical pathological examination of liver sections, VEGF positive cells count, and quantification of MVD value.

Before the MBMCs transplantation, the difference in liver function was not significant between the transplanted group and the control group. But after the MBMCs transplantation, the liver function of rabbits in the transplanted group were significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.05). More VEGF positive cells and higher MVD value were observed in the transplanted group than in the control group (P<0.05). In the transplanted group, the number of VEGF positive cells gradually reduced, the number on day 7 was higher than that on day 14 (P>0.05), while both were significantly higher than that on day 28 (P<0.05). In contrast, the value of MVD increased gradually in the transplanted group, the value on day 28 was higher than that on day 14 (P>0.05), while both were significantly higher than that on day 7 (P<0.05). In the control group, the number of VEGF positive cells also gradually reduced, that on day 7 was higher than that on day 14 or 28 (P<0.05), and that on day 14 was higher than that on day 28 (P>0.05). The MVD value significantly increased between each time point (P<0.05).

Transplantation of MBMCs promotes the expression of VEGF, up-regulates the MVD value in the acute injury livers, and facilitates the recovery of liver function.