OBJECTIVETo investigate changes in gene expression that occur upon treatment with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) for hepatic cirrhosis using a rat model system.

METHODSHepatic cirrhosis was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride and oral administration of alcohol.UC-MSCs were isolated from human umbilical cord and the cells' immunophenotype and differentiation towards osteogenic and adipogenic lineages were confirmed.The UC-MSC sample or vehicle alone (phosphate buffered saline, PBS) was transplanted by intravenous injection.Histopathological staining and serological testing were used to compare the liver morphology and function among the different groups.The gene expression in the PBS group and UC-MSC group were detected by gene microarray and differences between the groups were statistically analyzed by t-test.

RESULTSTransplantation of the UC-MSCs improved liver function in the hepatic cirrhosis rats.Comparison of the gene expression profiles of the PBS group and the UC-MSC group showed that the latter had up-regulation of the genes related to the complement and coagulation cascades and down-regulation of the genes related to cell proliferation, cell cycle, and collagen synthesis.

CONCLUSIONUC-MSC therapy might improve liver function in cirrhosis by increasing the expression of genes related to the complement and coagulation cascades and by decreasing genes involved in cell proliferation and collagen deposition.