Antifibrotic Alleviative Effect of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Experimentally induced Schistosoma mansoni Related Liver Fibrosis

Abstract

With increased national programs for eliminating schistosomiasis and viruses affecting the liver in Egypt, treating the remained pathology represented mainly by liver fibrosis will probably be a competitive goal in the coming few years. We aimed in our work to reinforce the antifibrotic effect of BM-MSCs in liver fibrosis related to Schistosoma mansoni (Egyptian strain) infection in murine model and correlating serum Hyaluronic acid (HA) to liver fibrosis. A pilot study was done first to ensure reaching of MSCs to the fibrosed liver tissues following infection with S. mansoni and secondly to detect the best route for MSCs inoculation. Then 70 female Swiss albino mice were divided into five groups. GI; uninfected untreated, (NC, n=10), infected mice were categorized into 4 groups each contained 15 mice regarding treatment at 6th week p.i; GII: Infected untreated, GIII: PZQ treated, GIV: received MSCs and GV: PZQ then MSCs treated. Sacrifaction of all mice at 14 th week p.i. was done and mice were subjected to parasitological, biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical workup. We observed that the use of BM-MSCs and PZQ significantly decreased mean granuloma number, with significant reduction in fibrosis percent (Masson trichrome) staining than PZQ. Presence of fibrosis was associated with high serum HA level and reduction of fibrosis was linked to lowering its serum levels. Use of the combined treatment improved liver function tests. Intravenous route for administration of MSCs and the use of HA as a noninvasive marker of fibrosis are recommended. MSCs significantly alleviate liver fibrosis induced by Schistosoma mansoni infection.