Immunomodulatory Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Provide a Promising Alternative For Treatment of Liver Transplantation

Introduction: Liver transplantation is the final treatment for the end stage of liver failure due to the hepatic dysfunction. Considering several limitations in this approach and based on the fact that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) do not elicit alloreactive lymphocyte to response due to immune modulations, this project was design to improve isolation, culture, characterization and in vitro differentiation of human MSC into hepatocyte like-cell using different protocols and culture conditions. Methods: Bone marrow of healthy donors was aspirated from the iliac crest after obtaining approval of Ethic Committee and informed consent to use these samples for investigational use. The adherent cells expanded rapidly and maintained with periodic passages until a relatively homogeneous population was established. The identification of these cells was carried out by differentiation potential into osteocyte and adipocyte. Transdifferentiation of human MSCs into hepatocyte-like cells was undertaken in response to a novel specific culture condition. Results: The differentiation of MSCs into osteoblast is determined by deposition of a mineralized extracellular matrix. Adipocytes are identified by their morphology and staining. Hepatic cells were demonstrated in vitro functions characteristic of liver cells. Conclusion: We have defined conditions under which human MSCs can be isolated and expanded from human bone marrow. These cells can be amplified about 10⁸-fold in 6 weeks, and were capable of transdifferentiation into liver-like cells. Understanding the cellular and molecular biology of MSCs may be new insights into their clinical applications.

Keywords:  Immunomodulatory Potential, Human Mesenchymal stem cells, Clinical applications, Liver transplantation