Adoptive transferred hepatic stellate cells attenuated drug-induced liver injury by modulating the rate of regulatory T cells/T helper 17 cells

Clin Immunol. 2016 Apr:165:12-8. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2016.02.006. Epub 2016 Feb 18.

Abstract

Our study showed that hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) promote the healing of the liver after drug-induced acute injury. However, the relevant mechanisms by which this is accomplished remain unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of the adoptive transfer of HSCs in acute liver injury and the underlying mechanisms for healing. It was found that adoptive transfer of HSCs resulted in an increase in Tregs and a decrease in Th17 cells. Liver insult was consistently attenuated by HSC treatment. HSC cultured medium induced Tregs from naive T cells and suppressed the differentiation of Th17 cells. This study demonstrated that the adoptive transfer of HSCs protected the liver from drug-induced acute injury. Promoting the differentiation of Tregs and suppressing the development of Th17 cells are possibly involved in the protective effect of adoptive transfer of HSCs.

Keywords: Hepatic stellate cells; Regulatory T cells; T helper 17 cells; Th17 cells; Tregs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer*
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / immunology
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / therapy*
  • Hepatic Stellate Cells / transplantation*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • Th17 Cells / immunology*