Silica Magnetic Graphene Oxide Improves the Effects of Stem Cell-Conditioned Medium on Acute Liver Failure.

OBJECTIVE

Acute liver failure (ALF) is usually associated with inflammation and oxidation of hepatocytes and has high mortality and resource costs. Although mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium (MSC-CM) has therapeutic effects similar to MSC transplant in treating liver failure, it may not increase survival. On the other hand, graphene-based nanostructures have been proven useful in biomedicine. In this study, we investigated whether silica magnetic graphene oxide (SMGO) improved the effects of MSC-CM in protecting hepatocytes and stimulating the regeneration of damaged liver cells.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

To provide a rat model of ALF, male rats were injected intraperitoneally with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The rats were randomly divided into six groups, namely control, sham, CCl4, MSC-CM, SMGO, and MSC-CM + SMGO. In the experimental groups, the rats received, depending on the group, 2 mL/kg body weight CCl4 and either MSC-CM with 5 × 106 MSCs or 300 μg/kg body weight SMGO or both. Symptoms of ALF appeared 4 days after the injection. All groups were compared and analyzed both histologically and biochemically 4 days after the injection.

RESULTS

The results indicated that the use of SMGO enhanced the effect of MSC-CM in reducing necrosis, inflammation, aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase in the CCl4-induced liver failure of the rat model. Also, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was significantly upregulated after treatment with SMGO.

CONCLUSION

SMGO improved the hepatoprotective effects of MSC-CM on acute liver damage, probably by suppressing necrosis, apoptosis, and inflammation of hepatocytes.