Hepatocyte proliferation and apoptosis under regulation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (hTERT) transfection can significantly extend the life cycle of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels so that the cels can continue to maintain pluripotency. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of hTERT gene-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels on hepatocyte proliferation and apoptosis. METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels from rats were isolated and cultured using direct adherent method. Then, hTERT eukaryotic expression plasmid, pCIneo-hTERT, was transferred into the cels using liposome transfection method. The hTERT-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels were co-cultured with hepatocytes at 1:1 (observation group), and meanwhile, non-transfected bone marrow mesenchyam stem cels were co-cultured with hepatocytes at 1:1 (control group), and hepatocytes cultured alone served as single culture group. Effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels on hepatocyte proliferation and apoptosis were observed by MTT assay and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The proliferative rate of hepatocytes was significantly higher in the observation group than the control and single culture groups (P < 0.05), and the survival rate of hepatocytes was significantly higher in the observation group than the single culture group (P < 0.05). Experimental findings suggest hTERT-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels can inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis but promote hepatocyte proliferation, so as to improve hepatocyte function.