Interleukin 10 enhances endothelial progenitor cell-mediated angiogenesis in extrahepatic portal venous obstruction.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, the therapeutic potential of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in restoring portal vein blood flow in a rat model of extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) was investigated, and the underlying mechanisms were explored. METHODS: Rats were divided into normal control (NC), EHPVO, EPC, knockout control-EPC (KO-NC-EPC), and knockout IL-10-EPC (KO-IL-10-EPC) groups. Portal blood flow was measured using a flowmeter. The numbers of blood capillaries and changes in portal vein diameter were analyzed using HE staining. RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and ELISA were employed to assess the relative cytokine levels in portal venous blood and liver tissues. RESULTS: Compared with the NC group, the EHPVO group exhibited significantly reduced portal blood flow, increased blood capillary density, a higher portal vein diameter ratio, decreased IL-10, eNOS, and t-PA levels, and increased PAI-1 and VEGF levels. EPC administration recovered the EHPVO rats but increased the VEGF level. Injecting the KO-IL-10-EPCs reduced the function of the EPCs in the EHPVO rats. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that EPCs can effectively ameliorate EHPVO through promoting neovascularization through the upregulation of VEGF expression induced by IL-10.