Our results suggest that TNF-alpha plays a critical role in the development of brain oedema in ALF, and that both vasogenic and cytotoxic mechanisms may be involved. Increased BBB permeability may be because of the disruption of TJs, and loss of the TJ-associated protein occludin.

Altered serum TNF-α levels play an important role in the ability of BM MSCs to protect against intestinal I/R injury.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) exert immunosuppressive activity in transplantation, and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) enhances their immunomodulatory effects. The aim of this study was to determine whether HO-1-transduced BMMSCs (HO-1/MSCs) improve rat liver transplantation (LTx) outcomes. Orthotopic LTx rejection models were treated with HO-1/MSCs, BMMSCs, HO-1, or normal saline, respectively. Our results showed a significant improvement in survival rates in the HO-1/BMMSCs group compared to the control groups. At all time points, liver function marker levels in the HO-1/MSCs group were significantly lower than in the other three groups; on POD 1, 7, and 14, the degree of rejection and apoptotic cells was significantly less in the HO-1/MSCs group than in the other three groups. Interleukin- (IL-) 10 and transforming growth factor-β levels were significantly increased, while IL-2, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ levels were significantly decreased in the HO-1/MSCs group when compared to the other groups. Splenocyte Tregs were significantly increased by HO-1/MSCs compared with controls on POD 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, and 28. Summarily, we provide evidence that HO-1/MSCs improved allogeneic LTx outcomes by attenuating inflammatory responses and acute cellular rejection, as well as enhanced immunomodulatory effects compared with BMMSCs.