DIFFERENTIATION & HOMING OF BONE MARROW-DERIVED MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS IN THE LIVER SCHISTOSOMA INFECTED MICE

Schistosomiasis is an endemic parasitic infective disease that remains widespread in several countries. This work aimed to evaluate the curative influence of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) engraftment in liver of schistosomiasis chronic infected mice. 30 Swiss albino mice divided into 3 groups of 10 mice each. G1: normal healthy group, G2: infected with Schistosoma mansoni cercariae subcutaneously and G3: infected and transplanted with BM-MSC on their 8th week post infection by intravenous injection. All mice were sacrificed 4 weeks post-transplantation. Serum was collected for assessment of albumin, ALT \u0026 AST levels. Engraftment of BM-MSC was assessed by labeling with PKH26. Histopathological and ultrastructural studies were carried out. Expression of capase-3 \u0026 IL-1as a marker of apoptosis and inflammation respectively were measured by quantitative RT-PCR. Homing of transplanted BM-MSC within the injured liver was confirmed by fluorescent microscopic examination. MSC labeled with PKH26 were recovered in liver. Histopathological and electron microscopic examinations of liver showed differentiation of transplanted BM-MSC into hepatocyte-like cells. Liver function was improved confirmed by elevation of serum albumin and decrease of ALT \u0026 AST in G3. Real-time PCR revealed that BM-MSC inhibited capase-3 and suppressinterleukin-1 mRNA expression in damaged liver tissues. MSC-treated group had the least apoptosis cells and inflammatory cells. Transplantation of BM-MSCs has therapeutic anti-apoptotic anti-inflammatory mechanisms effect in chronic liver disease.