No abstract

Adult human mesenchymal stem cells did not induce xenoreactivity in vitro in previously unexposed immunocompetent Sprague-Dawley rats. However, although mesenchymal stem cells are transplantable across allogeneic barriers, transplant rejection can occur in a xenogenic model. When transplanted into an immunoincompetent host, adult human mesenchymal stem cells showed persistent engraftment.

The special features of liver sinusoidal endothelium (LSE) are crucial for normal liver physiology. Cirrhotic livers, especially in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), are characterized by transformation of the LSE into a continuous, vascular type. The transformation is important for disease progression and explains some of the pathological hallmarks of the cirrhotic liver. Here, we investigated the presence of liver sinusoidal endothelial cell (LSEC)-reactive autoantibodies (Abs) in the sera of patients with autoimmune liver diseases, and assessed the ability of these Abs to transform LSE into vascular endothelium. Compared to healthy individuals (9%), significantly higher numbers of patients with PBC (59%; P < 0.001) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) (32%; P