Introduction: Liver diseases are major global health burden which lead to many complications if left untreated.
Aim of Work: Evaluating and comparing the therapeutic effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) versus Exosomes in CCL4 induced liver injury rat model.
Materials and Methods: Thirty-two adult male albino rats were divided into:Group І (Control),Group II (CCL4), Group III (Recovery),Group IV (MSCs),Group V(Exosomes). 0.1ml/kg of CCL4 in 0.1 ml olive oil was administered intraperitoneally (IP) twice weekly for six weeks for all experimental groups. MSCs were injected in the tail vein of group IV at a dose1×106 after last CCL4 injection. Exosomes were injected in the tail vein of group V at a dose 250 μg after last CCL4 injection. Animals of group II were sacrificed 6 weeks from the start of experiment. while groups(I&III&IV&V) were sacrificed 10 weeks after. ALT&AST were measured at the end of 6thand 10th week. Hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome stain,α-SMA and Caspase 3 immunostaining were performed. Mean values of AST&ALT,mean area % of collagen, mean number of α-SMA&caspase3 immunopositive cells &mean optical density of caspase 3 immunoreactivity were measured.
Results: In groups II& III, hepatocytes showed cytoplasmic vacuolations with dark pyknotic nuclei.A significant increase in mean values of liver enzymes,mean area % of collagen, mean number of α-SMA & caspase 3 immunopositive cells and mean optical density of caspase 3 in group II&III compared to control group and other groups. In group IV&V hepatocytes were apparently normal, few cells showed dark pyknotic nuclei. A significant decrease in mean values of liver enzymes, mean area % of collagen, mean number ofα-SMA &caspase 3 +ve cells and mean optical density of caspase 3 in group IV&V compared to groups II&III.
Conclusion: MSCs was effective as Exosomes with significant reduction of fibrosis in liver fibrosis rat model.