Gene expression profile of mesenchymal stromal cells after co-culturing with injured liver tissue

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a potential cell source for the development of therapeutic products. Recent studies have shown that the transplantation of MSCs to damaged organs, including the heart, liver and kidneys, results in the restoration of the damaged tissues. However, the mechanisms underlying this regeneration process have yet to be clearly characterized. Consequently, in this study, we focused on the therapeutic potential of MSCs in injured liver tissue by evaluating the gene expression profiles of MSCs in the presence of injured liver and normal liver cells using a microarray chip containing 44,000 genes. In order to mimic the state of liver cell regeneration in vitro, we respectively co-cultured MSCs with CCl4-injured liver cells and normal liver cells from C57BL/6 female mice. After 48 h of co-culturing, MSCs were collected and the RNA was extracted for microarray analysis. Under conditions of co-culture with normal liver cells, upregulated expression of CXCR6, CCR3, IL-2, IL-11, CD34, CD74, procollagen, FMS-like tyrosine kinase, neuregulin 4, Wnt2 and catenins was noted. Under conditions of co-culture with the CCl4-injured liver cells, expression of CXCL2, cytoglobin, erythropoietin, v-Erb, hypoxia-inducible factor 3 (α subunit), retinoic acid receptor β and Vav2 was upregulated. Our research provides information regarding the differential molecular mechanisms that regulate the properties of MSCs in the regeneration of injured liver tissue.