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Introduction Bone marrow (BM) cell populations have a number of roles in the development and resolution of chronic liver disease. Clinical trials of BM cell therapy have already begun. These have generally employed mixed cell populations often enriched for adult stem cells. Such cells may have a range of phenotypically diverse progeny. The identification of a defined cell type with beneficial effect will provide the basis of rational and predictable therapy. We have previously shown that macrophages are key mediators of scar remodelling. Iterative injury with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) results in a well characterised model of murine hepatic fibrosis. Aim We sought to determine whether bone marrow derived macrophages (BMMs) could be used as cell therapy for liver fibrosis. Method Liver fibrosis was induced in female C57/Bl6 mice by 12 weeks i.p. carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Macrophages were derived from the bone marrow of age-matched syngeneic mice cultured for 7 days under low adherence conditions in macrophage colony stimulating factor conditioned media. 8 weeks into the CCl4 injury protocol, mice received either 106 BMMs via the hepatic portal vein (n=8) or control medium (n=8). Serum was analysed for albumin and livers were analysed for mediators of inflammation, fibrosis and regeneration. To track donor cells, male (C57Bl/6) or transgenic green fluorescent protein+ (CBA) BMMs were delivered to strain-matched fibrotic wild type mice. Results BMMs were 88% F4/80+/CD11b+, possessed characteristic morphologic and phenotypic features, and expressed the chemokines MCP-1, MIP-1α and MIP-2. At 12 weeks, C57Bl/6 mice receiving the macrophage injection had 32% less fibrosis (mean±SEM: 2.5±0.4 vs 3.7±0.3%, p<0.05) and higher serum albumin levels (46±2.6 vs 39.9±0.86 g/l, p=0.05). Significant improvements in fibrosis and serum albumin were also demonstrated in CBA mice. Donor macrophages transiently engrafted the scar increasing hepatic levels of macrophage (MCP-1), and neutrophil (MIP-1α, MIP-2 and KC) chemoattractants (p<0.05). This enhanced recruitment of host macrophages and neutrophils to the hepatic scar areas with associated increases in MMP-13 and MMP-9 (p<0.05). A 60% reduction in myofibroblast staining (p<0.05) followed. The early influx of host leukocytes was accompanied by a 346% increase in hepatic levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Donor BMMs expressed high levels of the progenitor cell mitogen TWEAK. Macrophage recipients upregulated hepatic TWEAK by 216% with a 40% increase in the number of liver progenitor cells (p<0.05). Hepatocyte proliferation was not significantly affected. Conclusion BMM therapy decreases fibrosis and increases regeneration improving clinically meaningful parameters of chronic liver disease in this model. The actions of the donor BMMs are amplified through paracrine signalling to numerically greater endogenous cell populations. Importantly, these effects are mediated by a single differentiated donor cell type, bringing clarity to the cause-effect relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: Following chronic liver injury or when hepatocyte proliferation is impaired, ductular reactions containing hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) appear in the periportal regions and can regenerate the liver parenchyma. HPCs exist in a niche composed of myofibroblasts, macrophages and laminin matrix. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a β-galactoside-binding lectin that binds to laminin and is expressed in injured liver in mice and humans., Design: We examined the role of Gal-3 in HPC activation. HPC activation was studied following dietary induced hepatocellular (choline-deficient ethionine-supplemented diet) and biliary (3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine supplemented diet) injury in wild type and Gal-3(-/-) mice., Results: HPC proliferation was significantly reduced in Gal-3(-/-) mice. Gal-3(-/-) mice failed to form a HPC niche, with reduced laminin formation. HPCs isolated from wild type mice secrete Gal-3 which enhanced adhesion and proliferation of HPCs on laminin in an undifferentiated form. These effects were attenuated in Gal3(-/-) HPCs and in wild type HPCs treated with the Gal-3 inhibitor lactose. Gal-3(-/-) HPCs in vitro showed increased hepatocyte function and prematurely upregulated both biliary and hepatocyte differentiation markers and regulated cell cycle genes leading to arrest in G0/G1., Conclusions: We conclude that Gal-3 is required for the undifferentiated expansion of HPCs in their niche in injured liver., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.)