Original Article
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 28, 2013; 19(32): 5250-5260
Published online Aug 28, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i32.5250
Human platelets inhibit liver fibrosis in severe combined immunodeficiency mice
Kazuhiro Takahashi, Soichiro Murata, Kiyoshi Fukunaga, Nobuhiro Ohkohchi
Kazuhiro Takahashi, Soichiro Murata, Kiyoshi Fukunaga, Nobuhiro Ohkohchi, Department of Surgery, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 3058575, Japan
Author contributions: Takahashi K, Murata S, Fukunaga K and Ohkohchi N contributed equally to this work; Takahashi K and Ohkohchi N wrote the paper.
Supported by Research grants from University of Tsukuba, the Basic Research Support Program for Young Researcher
Correspondence to: Dr. Nobuhiro Ohkohchi, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba 3058575, Japan. nokochi3@md.tsukuba.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-29-8533221 Fax: +81-29-8533222
Received: April 3, 2013
Revised: June 12, 2013
Accepted: July 4, 2013
Published online: August 28, 2013
Processing time: 142 Days and 23.1 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: We assessed the effects of human platelet transfusion on liver fibrosis. Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice were administered CCl4 and either phosphate-buffered saline or human platelets. The effects of a human platelet transfusion on liver fibrosis and hepatocyte apoptosis were compared. The fibrotic area, hydroxyproline content, and α-smooth muscle actin expression were decreased in mice that received human platelet transfusions. Transfusion increased mouse hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and matrix metallopeptidases (MMP)-9 levels in the liver and decreased mouse transforming growth factor-β. Furthermore, transfusion suppressed hepatocyte apoptosis. Human platelets inhibited liver fibrosis in SCID mice. Increased concentration of HGF in the liver suppresses hepatic stellate cell activation, induces MMPs, and inhibits hepatocyte apoptosis.