Conclusions
Treatment with G-CSF-mobilized CD34+ HSCs from bone marrow into peripheral blood could significantly promote tissue reparation after acute liver injury by radiation in mice, possibly by the ability of CD34+ HSCs to generate hepatocytes. So mobilization of CD34+ HSCs might offer a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of radiation-induced complications after radiotherapy or other acute liver diseases in humans.
Methods
G-CSF-mobilized CD34+ HSCs (1 × 105 cells per mouse) were injected via tail vein in the irradiated femal nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mice. Irradiated control animals received only saline infusion.
Results
The mobilized CD34+ HSCs significantly ameliorated radiation-induced liver damage. In the liver of recipient mice killed 21 days after irradiation, human albumin+ Y-chromosome+ hepatocyte-like cells, or human cytokeratin+ Y-chromosome+ hepatocyte-like cells formed cords of hepatocytes, occupied ~30% of the 4-μm section surrounding portal tracts. Furthermore, human-specific albumin mRNA expressed in the liver and human albumin was detected in the serum only in the CD34+ HSC-treated mice. Conclusions: Treatment with G-CSF-mobilized CD34+ HSCs from bone marrow into peripheral blood could significantly promote tissue reparation after acute liver injury by radiation in mice, possibly by the ability of CD34+ HSCs to generate hepatocytes. So mobilization of CD34+ HSCs might offer a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of radiation-induced complications after radiotherapy or other acute liver diseases in humans.