Treatment of Con A-induced autoimmune hepatitis with hepatic artery transplantation of allogeneic ADSCs in mice

AIM: To explore the therapeutic potential of adipose tissue-derived stem cell (ADSC) transplantation via hepatic artery in concanavalin A(Con A)-induced autoimmune hepatitis in mice. METHODS: Forty mice with Con A-induced hepatitis were randomly divided into 4 groups: negative group, hepatic artery group, caudal vein,group and positive control group. The mice in hepatic artery group and caudal group were transplanted with ADSCs (2×10⁶) via hepatic artery and caudal vein, respectively. Cyclophosphamide injection was taken as positive control. Inflammatory cytokines involved in Con A-induced hepatitis, liver function index, manifestations and pathological changes of the liver were observed before and after treatment. RESULTS: All animals survived after ADSC transplantation in hepatic artery group and caudal vein group. Compared with caudal vein transplantation group, ADSC transplantation via hepatic artery significantly reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ,IL-4 and IL-5), and the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase. Pathological changes of the livers showed that the extent of inflammatory infiltration after hepatic artery transplantation of ADSCs was similar to that in positive control group. The inflammatory cells and necrosis of hepatic cells were significantly reduced compared with those in caudal vein group. CONCLUSION: Transplantation of allogeneic ADSCs via hepatic artery attenuates Con A-induced autoimmune hepatitis in mice. ADSC transplantation may be the potential therapy for autoimmune hepatitis.