Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell(UCMSC) transplantation, alone or in combination with tanshinone IIA(Tan IIA) on hepatic cirrhosis in rats.METHODS: A rat model of cirrhosis was established. Rats were divided into control, UCMSC, and UCSMC plus Tan IIA groups. Rats in the UCMSC group were injected via the tail vein with 0.2 m L Di I-labeled UCMSC suspension. Intraperitoneal Tan IIA injections(20 mg/kg) were started on the day ofUCMSC transplantation in the UCMSC plus Tan IIA group, and continued for 7 consecutive days thereafter. Rats were sacrificed 1 day, 3 days, 1 month,and 3 months after transplantation and the numbers of Di I-labeled UCMSCs colonizing the liver were determined. Albumin(ALB) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT) levels were measured in venous blood, and m RNA and protein expression levels of human ALB and cytokeratin(CK)-18 in liver tissues were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively.RESULTS: Serum ALT levels were significantly lower and serum ALB levels significantly higher in rats in the UCMSC group compared with the control group(P < 0.05). Hepatic CK-18 and ALB m RNA and protein expression levels increased after transplantation, and were significantly higher in the UCMSC plus Tan IIA group compared with the UCMSC group(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Human UCMSCs transplanted into rats with liver cirrhosis can grow and differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells resulting in improved liver function in vivo. Tan IIA further influenced transplantation outcomes.

Key words: Liver cirrhosis, Umbilical cord, Mesenchymal stem cells, Tanshinone, Transplantation