ATSC transplantation contributes to liver regeneration following paracetamol-induced acute liver injury through differentiation into hepatic-like cells

Introduction: Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a leading cause of acute liver injury (ALI). Acetaminophen (also termed paracetamol), can often be found in drugs that may be abused (i.e., prescription for pain relief). Animal experiments have shown that mesenchymal stem cell transplantation can ameliorate or even reverse hepatic injury. Material and methods: ALI was induced in Wistar rats using paracetamol. ATSCs were transplanted via the intravenous, portal vein, or intrahepatic route directly onto the liver parenchyma. Histological evaluation was conducted to assess drug-induced injury following transplantation. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to verify the location of stem cells on the liver parenchyma. The effect of those cells on liver regeneration was tested by immunohistochemistry for hepatic growth factor (HGF). In addition, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to assess hepatic growth factor (HGF), hepatic nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α), cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) and α-fetoprotein (AFP) mRNA expression. Results: Immunohistochemical staining for HGF was stronger in the transplanted groups than that in the control group (P