الفهرس 
Introduction and aim of workOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Recent literature have shown the ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to repair injured liver, lung, or heart through reducing inflammation, collagen deposition, and remodeling. These data provide clue of the therapeutic role of MSCs on methotrexate-induced distorted histopathological and biochemical hepatic parameters and possible fibrosis which was examined in the current work.
MSCs were derived from the bone marrow of femora and tibiae of adult albino rats. They were separated, grown, propagated in culture for 4 weeks and were characterized by their morphology and by the detection of CD29 surface marker. MSCs were infused into the tail vein of the rats that received methotrexate injection to induce hepatotoxicity. Rats were categorized into four groups: control, sham control, methotrexate and methotrexate plus MSCs. Liver tissue was examined histopathologically and liver functions (ALT, serum bilirubin and serum albumin) were estimated for all groups. Collagen gene expression was assessed as a marker for liver fibrosis.
Methotrexate hepatotoxicity was mainly in the form of massive periportal hepatocellular necrosis, bile duct hyperplasia, mononuclear cellular infiltrations and marked periportal fibrosis. With regard to liver functions, there was highly significant elevation of serum bilirubin and ALT levels and reduction of serum albumin. Collagen gene was highly expressed. MSCs had a rectifying effect on the induced methotrexate hepatotoxicity as evidenced histologically and biochemically. Liver parenchyma restored its uniform architecture with minimal collagen deposition. Liver functions were completely restored with normal collagen gene expression.
Conclusion: MSC have a potential therapeutic effect against methotrexate induced hepatotoxicity through their effect in minimizing collagen deposition in addition to their capacity to differentiate into hepatocytes.