Effect of Stem Cells on Hepatic Encephalopathy Induced By Sepsis in Rats

Paper ID : 1117-ISCHU

Authors

Asmaa Mohammed Mohammed * Helwan university

Abstract

Stem cells are a group of cells that have the ability to self-renew, proliferate, and differentiate into a variety of cell types under specific conditions. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been investigated the most in the treatment of liver fibrosis. We aimed in the current study to investigate the protective effect of stem cells against the inflammation and oxidative stress caused by the induction of sepsis in rats, in addition to improving liver functions and minimising the apooptotic markers in septic rats in which sepsis had been induced with cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Thirty male white albino Wistar rats weighing 130 to 170 grams were divided randomly into five groups (n = 6): control group (C), sham-operated group (SH), untreated CLP-induced septic (CLP) group, septic rats treated with stem cells group (MSC), and septic rats treated with antibiotic group (AB). Hepatic encephalopathy caused by sepsis toxicity was indicated by measuring the complete blood count (CBC), physiological parameters (liver enzymes in serum; ALT and AST), and oxidant and antioxidant markers in liver tissue (nitrites (NO2), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in both serum and liver tissue, and molecular studies (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction RT-PCR for Interleukin-8 (IL-8), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) genes). Pretreatment with stem cells decreased the elevated levels of malondialdehyde, the activity of myeloperoxidase, nitric oxide (NO), and inducible NO synthase, and the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), but increased the content of glutathione and antioxidant enzyme activities in rats with sepsis. Moreover, the results of biochemical analyses and qRT-PCR indicated that stem cell treatment lowered the level of cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukin (IL)-1β. Additionally, stem cells reduced myocardial and renal apoptosis by inducing the downregulation of caspase-3 and Bax mRNA and upregulation of the expression of Bcl-2. Based on these results, we suggest that stem cells have a protective effect against multiple-organ impairment that follows sepsis, especially hepatic encephalopathy. This effect may be attributed to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities of stem cells.

Keywords

Keywords: stem cells. Sepsis.hepatic encephalopathy. Anti-oxidant

Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation)