Interleukin 10 enhances endothelial progenitor cell-mediated angiogenesis in extrahepatic portal venous obstruction

In this study, the therapeutic potential of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in restoring portal vein blood flow in a rat model of extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) was investigated, and the underlying mechanisms were explored.

Rats were divided into normal control (NC), EHPVO, EPC, knockout control-EPC (KO-NC-EPC), and knockout IL-10-EPC (KO-IL-10-EPC) groups. Portal blood flow was measured using a flowmeter. The numbers of blood capillaries and changes in portal vein diameter were analyzed using HE staining. RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and ELISA were employed to assess the relative cytokine levels in portal venous blood and liver tissues.

Compared with the NC group, the EHPVO group exhibited significantly reduced portal blood flow, increased blood capillary density, a higher portal vein diameter ratio, decreased IL-10, eNOS, and t-PA levels, and increased PAI-1 and VEGF levels. EPC administration recovered the EHPVO rats but increased the VEGF level. Injecting the KO-IL-10-EPCs reduced the function of the EPCs in the EHPVO rats.

The results of this study demonstrate that EPCs can effectively ameliorate EHPVO through promoting neovascularization through the upregulation of VEGF expression induced by IL-10.