Synergistic effects of rMSCs and salidroside on the experimental hepatic fibrosis

Rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) and salidroside have been applied in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis. The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism of hepatic differentiation of rMSCs in vitro and synergistic effects of rMSCs and salidroside on the experimental hepatic fibrosis in rats. rMSCs treated with 10 microg/mL, 20 microg/mL and 50 microg/mL salidroside were taken at 14 days and the proteins were subjected to western blot analysis. Hepatic fibrosis was induced in rats by administration of porcine serum for 8 weeks. Then, rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: control group, hepatic fibrosis group (model), salidroside group, rMSCs group and rMSCs plus salidroside group. Four weeks later, the localization and differentiation of rMSCs were determined. To evaluate the improvement of liver injury, the pathology of hepatocytes (or liver) and serum transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) were assessed. Induced rMSCs expressed alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin (ALB), which suggested rMSCs differentiated towards hepatocytes; moreover, E-adherin and beta-catenin were involved in the hepatic differentiation of rMSCs. In experiments of rMSCs transplantation, the amount of collagen in the liver of rMSCs plus salidroside treated rats was significantly lowered accompanied by reduced expression of TGF-beta1, when compared to the control group and rMSCs group. These findings suggested the synergistic effects of rMSCs transplantation and salidroside on hepatic fibrosis. Salidroside could differentiate rMSCs towards hepatocytes and E-adherin and beta-catenin were involved in the hepatic differentiation of rMSCs. Treatment with rMSCs transplantation and salidroside exerted synergistic effects on the experimental hepatic fibrosis via suppressing the expression of TGF-beta1.