Stimulation of Liver Regeneration After Hepatectomy in Mice by Injection of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells via the Portal Vein

Aim. To investigate whether mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMC) stimulate liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. Methods. Isolated BMCs were purified by density gradient centrifugation. We performed a 70% hepatectomy in male BALB/c mice followed by injection of BMCs into the portal vein (PV-BMC group), or the tail vein (IV-BMC group), or of saline into the portal vein (control group). Results. The wet weight of the liver remnant increased significantly in the PV-BMC group at 3 and 5 days after hepatectomy compared with the IV-BMC and control groups. The Ki-67 labeling index revealed that the increase to result from stimulation of DNA synthesis. The constitutive interleulcin-6 and hepatocyte growth factor mRNAs in the remnant liver tended to increase in the PV-BMC group at 3 days after hepatectomy. Conclusions. These results demonstrated that BMC injection into the portal vein enhanced liver growth after partial hepatectomy in mice.