Transplantation of bone marrow cells decreases tumor necrosis factor-α production and blood–brain barrier permeability and improves survival in a mouse model of acetaminophen-induced acute liver disease

Background aimsAcute liver failure (ALF), although rare, remains a rapidly progressive and frequently fatal condition. Acetaminophen (APAP) poisoning induces a massive hepatic necrosis and often leads to death as a result of cerebral edema. Cell-based therapies are currently being investigated for liver injuries. We evaluated the therapeutic potential of transplantation of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMC) in a mouse model of acute liver injury.MethodsALF was induced in C57Bl/6 mice submitted to an alcoholic diet followed by fasting and injection of APAP. Mice were transplanted with 107 BMC obtained from enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic mice.ResultsBMC transplantation caused a significant reduction in APAP-induced mortality. However, no significant differences in serum aminotransferase concentrations, extension of liver necrosis, number of inflammatory cells and levels of cytokines in the liver were found when BMC- and saline-injected groups were compared. Moreover, recruitment of transplanted cells to the liver was very low and no donor-derived hepatocytes were observed. Mice submitted to BMC therapy had some protection against disruption of the blood–brain barrier, despite their hyperammonemia, and serum metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity similar to the saline-injected group. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentrations were decreased in the serum of BMC-treated mice. This reduction was associated with an early increase in interleukin (IL)-10 mRNA expression in the spleen and bone marrow after BMC treatment.ConclusionsBMC transplantation protects mice submitted to high doses of APAP and is a potential candidate for ALF treatment, probably via an immunomodulatory effect on TNF-α production.