Human Liver-Derived Stem Cells Improve Fibrosis and Inflammation Associated with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Figure 7

Effects of HLSCs on liver inflammation. (a) Gene expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines Tnf-α, Il-1β, and Ifn-γ in livers of MCDD-fed mice treated at different weeks (1 , 2 , or 3 ) with HLSCs or with vehicle alone. Data are expressed as relative quantification using the ΔΔCt method. Normalization was made using GAPDH as a housekeeping gene. ANOVA with the Newman-Keuls multicomparison test was performed; HLSC-treated mice versus NASH mice treated with vehicle alone and MCDD-fed mice versus CTRL mice treated with standard diet. (b) Representative micrographs of liver cryosections from MCDD-fed mice injected or not with HLSCs at week 1, 2, or 3, stained for CD45 to identify the presence of inflammatory cells. Infiltrates of inflammatory cells. CD45-positive cells (green) were present only in MCDD-fed mice that did not receive cell treatment. Nuclei were counter-stained with DAPI (blue). Original magnification 400x. Quantification of CD45-positive cells (c) and of FSP1-positive cells (d) per HPF (original magnification ×400) in 10 fields per section. Data represents . ANOVA with the Newman-Keuls multicomparison test was performed: MCDD-fed mice (NASH) treated with vehicle alone versus MCDD-fed mice injected with HLSCs at different weeks.

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