Objective To investigate the effect of Jisheng Shenqi Decoction on homing efficiency of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) through stromal cell-derived factor-1/CXC family chemokine receptor 4 axis, and analyze the mechanism of its combination with BMSCs transplantation in the treatment of liver cirrhosis.
Methods The SD rat liver cirrhosis model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 40% carbon tetrachloride olive oil solution combined with complex factors. Thirty rats were randomly divided into model group, BMSCs transplantation group (BMSCs group), BMSCs transplantation combined with Jisheng Shenqi decoction group (combined group), 10 rats in each group, and 10 normal rats were set up as normal group, a total of 4 groups. After modeling, the BMSCs group and the combination group were injected with fluorescent labeled BMSCs into the tail vein. The combination group was also given Jisheng Shenqi Decoction by gavage. The normal group and the model group were not treated. After 4 weeks of administration, observe the liver function indexes and pathological changes of liver tissues of rats in each group, observe the homing of BMSCs in liver tissues of rats in each group under fluorescence microscope, and detect the serum stem cell factor (SCF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) The levels of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) and erythropoietin (EPO) were changed. The expression of SDF-1 and CXCR4 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry.
Results Under the light microscope, the liver fibrosis in the model group was obvious, with a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrating, while the degree of fibrosis and the degree of inflammatory activity in the BMSCs group and the combined group were improved to varying degrees compared with the model group. Compared with the normal group, the serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, total bilirubin γ- Glutamine transpeptidase was significantly increased and albumin was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, BMSCs group and combined group were improved to some extent (P<0.05). Compared with BMSCs homing, the number of BMSCs homing in the combined group was more than that in the BMSCs group under the same multiple visual field (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression of SCF, HGF, GCSF and EPO in serum of rats in BMSCs group and combined group were higher than those in BMSCs group (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of SDF-1 and CXCR4 protein in liver tissue of rats in BMSCs group and combination group was higher than that in model group, and the expression level in combination group was higher than that in BMSCs group (P<0.05).
Conclusion Jisheng Shenqi Decoction can activate SDF-1/CXCR4 biological axis, up regulate the expression of related proteins and their upstream regulatory factors, promote BMSCs to return to damaged liver tissue, and improve liver function and degree of cirrhosis in rats with liver cirrhosis.