AIM: To evaluate the number of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC) that are migrated to the liver following transplantation of murine BMMC into mice with acute liver injury.

METHODS: BMMC were isolated from the bone marrow of mice in a lymphocyte separation medium and then labeled with PKH26. The labeled cells were subsequently infused into the caudal veins of BALB/c mice with hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride and 2-acetylaminofluorene. Mice in experimental group were treated with stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) which was injected intraperitoneally after transplantation of BMMC. Mice in control group were injected intraperitoneally with 0.1 mL of saline (0.9% NaCl) after transplantation of BMMC. After 2 wk, migration of the cells in experimental group was studied by fluorescence microscopy. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and albumin was quantified with manual methods in both groups. The serum transaminase levels at different time points were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: The labeled “cells” were found in the portal region and central veins of hepatic lobules. The PKH26-labeled cells appeared at an average frequency of 108±8/high power field in the experiment group and 65±8/high power field in the control group (P< 0.05). The total number of positive cells was 29±7/high power field in the experimental group and 13±2/high power field in the control group. The albumin expression level was also higher in the experimental group than in the control group (29±7 vs 13±2, P< 0.05). The total number of crossing points was 156±5/high power field in the experimental group and 53±5/high power field in the control group (P< 0.05). The serum alanine aminotransferase levels in experimental and control groups were measured at different time points (120±40 vs 118.50±1.75, P> 0.05; 80.60±6.50 vs 101.08±5.67, P< 0.05; 50.74±5.38 vs 80.47±4.62, P< 0.05; 30.54±2.70 vs 60.72±4.37, P< 0.05; 30.77±5.36 vs 40.47±6.50, P< 0.05). At the same time, the serum aspartate aminotransferase levels were measured in experimental and control groups at different time points (122.55±1.46 vs 120.70±4.22, P> 0.05; 54.26±6.50 vs 98.70±8.20, P< 0.05; 39.47±5.39 vs 78.34±4.50, P< 0.05; 28.94±2.70 vs 56.44±4.28, P< 0.05; 30.77±5.45 vs 42.50±6.28, P< 0.05).

CONCLUSION: SDF-1 can promote the migration of BMMC to the liver of mice with acute liver failure.