Human mesenchymal stem cell secretome lowers caspase-3 levels and apoptosis in hepatocytes of cholestatic rats

Liver cirrhosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Definitive therapy is liver transplantation, but it is constrained by difficulties in finding a transplant donor. Human mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy can help liver regeneration directly, through hepatogenic differentiation, or indirectly through the paracrine secretome. Thus, this study aims to determine the effect of Human mesenchymal stem cell secretome (HuMSC-S) administration on caspase 3 levels and apoptotic hepatic cells in a rat model with cholestasis after choledochal duct ligation receiving urso deoxy cholic acid (UDCA). Twenty-four male Wistar rats were subjected to a choledochal duct ligation and were included in this randomized experimental study. After surgical intervention, all rats were randomly assigned into 4 group: control, UDCA, HuMSC-S, and a combination of UDCA and HuMSC-S for 4 weeks. Caspase-3 levels were assessed from the blood sample, while the apoptosis of hepatocytes was evaluated using histopathologic examination of the liver. Interestingly, caspase-3 level was significantly lower in the UDCA and HuMSC-S-treated groups compared to the UDCA or HuMSC-S alone. Similarly, the apoptosis of hepatocyte was significantly lower in the combination group compared to the UDCA or HuMSC-S alone. In conclusion, addition of HuMSC-S to UDCA lowered caspase-3 levels and apoptotic cell count in rats with hepatic cholestasis after choledochal duct ligation.