Human urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene-modified bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells attenuate liver fibrosis in rats by down-regulating the Wnt signaling pathway

Figure 1 Morphological characterization of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. A: The morphological appearance of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) at passage 4 of cell culture (magnification 40 ×); B-F: Expression of green fluorescence protein 72 h after BMSCs transfection by Ad-uPA at different levels of multiplicity of infection (MOI) (MOI = 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100; magnification 40 ×).

Figure 2 Western blot detection of urokinase plasminogen activator protein expression in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells after Ad- urokinase plasminogen activator transfection. Lane 1, uninfected bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs); Lane 2, BMSCs infected with recombinant adenovirus containing human urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) cDNA; Lane 3, BMSCs infected with control adenovirus. GAPDH: Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Figure 3 Histopathological change of liver tissue in different groups. A: HE and Masson staining was used to detect structural changes in liver tissues; B: Quantitative analyzes of liver fibrosis were performed using Masson stained sections. Five random views from each sample in each group were analyzed. BMSCs: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells; uPA: Urokinase plasminogen activator.

Figure 4 Effect of urokinase plasminogen activator gene modified-bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells transplantation on the mRNA expression of molecules of the Wnt signaling pathway. The bar graph shows mean relative mRNA expression levels of β-catenin, Wnt4 and Wnt5a in liver tissues. Each sample was repeated three times from each cluster. Data are normalized to GAPDH mRNA expression levels. GAPDH: Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; BMSCs: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells; uPA: Urokinase plasminogen activator.

Figure 5 Effect of urokinase plasminogen activator gene modified-bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells transplantation on the protein expression of molecules of the Wnt signaling pathway. A: Representative Western blot analysis of uPA, β-catenin, Wnt4, and Wnt5a protein expression levels in four groups; B: The bar graph represents mean relative protein expression levels of urokinase plasminogen activator, β-catenin, Wnt4, and Wnt5a. Data are normalized to GAPDH protein expression levels. GAPDH: Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; BMSCs: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells; uPA: Urokinase plasminogen activator.