Stem cells harvested from different sources ameliorate liver fibrosis: comparative study

Hepatic fibrosis is a serious illness that can lead to death. Until recently, there has been no effective medication to protect the liver and heal fibrosis. When thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatotoxicity occurred, we aimed to determine the hepatoprotective effectiveness of adipose, bone marrow, and liver-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Fifty male albino Wistar rats were used throughout the study and divided into 5 groups. Each group had 10 rats divided into 2 cages, 5 rats per cage. Forty male albino Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally with 100 mg/kg of thioacetamide 2 times a week for 9 weeks. After 5 weeks of induction of liver fibrosis, forty rats were divided into four groups. One group was considered the TAA group and didn't receive any treatment, and the other three groups were inoculated with a single dose of 3 × 10⁶ BM-MSCs, AD-MSCs, and L-MSCs, respectively. We assessed the liver function tests as ALT, AST, and total bilirubin, which showed a significant decrease in groups inoculated with stem cells. But although the most significant decrease appeared in the L-MSCs inoculated group. Additionally, there was a notable rise in albumin levels in the L-MSC-inoculated group. In groups injected with stem cells, namely L-MSCs, the evaluation of antioxidant and oxidative stress levels revealed a substantial increase in GSH concentration, SOD activity, and CAT activity. Additionally, there is a noticeable drop in MDA and NO levels. By the ELISA technique, we assessed the hydroxyproline and collagen type-1, and the results showed a significant decrease in the groups inoculated with stem cells, especially L-MSCs. As well, this group showed a significant downregulation of ASMA gene expression. The percentage of fibrosis assessed in the histopathologic samples showed the most significant decrease in the L-MSCs inoculated group. In conclusion, our study showed that the different types of mesenchymal stem cells had an ameliorative effect on hepatic fibrosis, but the best results appeared with L-MSCs rather than BM-MSCs and AD-MSCs. The treated group with L-MSCs showed great enhancement in the antioxidant status, decreased hydroxyproline and collagen type-1 content, and a lower percentage of fibrosis.