Research
Human CD34+ cells mobilized by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor ameliorate radiation-induced liver damage in mice
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* Corresponding author: Baijun Fang fdation@sina.com
- † Equal contributors
1 Center of Excellence in Tissue Engineering, Henan Institute of Haematology, Henan Tumor Hospital, Zhengzhou University, 127 Dongming Road, Zhengzhou 450008, China
2 Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center of Sun Yat-Sen University, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
Stem Cell Research & Therapy 2010, 1:22 doi:10.1186/scrt22
Published: 15 July 2010Abstract
Introduction
On the basis of the recently recognized potential of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to give rise to hepatocytes, we have assessed the potential of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized bone marrow-derived CD34+ HSCs to contribute to faster recovery and promote regeneration process after acute liver injury by radiation.
Methods
G-CSF-mobilized CD34+ HSCs (1 × 105 cells per mouse) were injected via tail vein in the irradiated femal nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mice. Irradiated control animals received only saline infusion.
Results
The mobilized CD34+ HSCs significantly ameliorated radiation-induced liver damage. In the liver of recipient mice killed 21 days after irradiation, human albumin+ Y-chromosome+ hepatocyte-like cells, or human cytokeratin+ Y-chromosome+ hepatocyte-like cells formed cords of hepatocytes, occupied ~30% of the 4-μm section surrounding portal tracts. Furthermore, human-specific albumin mRNA expressed in the liver and human albumin was detected in the serum only in the CD34+ HSC-treated mice.
Conclusions
Treatment with G-CSF-mobilized CD34+ HSCs from bone marrow into peripheral blood could significantly promote tissue reparation after acute liver injury by radiation in mice, possibly by the ability of CD34+ HSCs to generate hepatocytes. So mobilization of CD34+ HSCs might offer a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of radiation-induced complications after radiotherapy or other acute liver diseases in humans.