Hepatocyte-derived liver progenitor-like cells attenuate liver cirrhosis via induction of apoptosis in hepatic stellate cells

Cell therapy shows great promise as an alternative therapy for the cirrhotic liver. We have previously developed an approach for efficient expansion of both murine and human hepatocyte-derived liver progenitor-like cells (HepLPCs) in vitro without genetic modification. The current study aimed to apply HepLPCs to treatment of liver cirrhosis. The effects of allogeneic HepLPCs transplantation were studied in rat models of liver cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) . Liver tissues were collected and analyzed by RNA sequencing array to analyze changes in histology or gene expression patterns. Transplantation of HepLPCs reduced active fibrogenesis and net fibrosis in model of liver cirrhosis. Apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) was observed in vivo after HepLPCs treatment. Comparative gene expression profiling analysis of RNA-seq data for whole liver samples of control rats (normal) or rats injected with PBS or rat HepLPCs, n=3. Control livers were obtained from animals that received neither CCl4 nor cell transplants.