P01 | PUTATIVE EFFECTS OF THE HYDROGEL-STEM CELL-MELATONIN COMBINATION WITH OR WITHOUT A SCAFFOLD TO TREAT THIOACETAMIDE-INDUCED LIVER DEGENERATION IN RAT

G. Ozgun¹, D. Yucel², M. Kolgazi³, S. Ozer⁴, N. Tozun⁵, S. Arbak⁶ | ¹Dept of Medical Biotechnology, Institute of health sciences, Acibadem Univ, Istanbul, Türkiye; ²Dept. of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Acibadem Univ, Istanbul, Türkiye; ³Dept. of Physiology, School of Medicine, Acibadem Univ., Istanbul, Türkiye; ⁴Animal Application and Research Center, Acibadem Univ. Istanbul, Türkiye; ⁵Dept. of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Acibadem Univ., Istanbul, Türkiye; ⁶Dept. of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Acibadem Univ., Istanbul, Türkiye

This study investigates the effects of Wharton’s Jelly-Mesenchymal Stem Cells and type I collagen-based hydrogel solution containing melatonin on liver regeneration in experimental liver degeneration model induced by thioacetamide (TAA) in Wistar albino male rats. Control and MSC group were given saline 3/w. MSC group was administered MSCs via i.p. injection at 6th week. Injury group was given 200 mg/kg TAA i.p. 3/w for 6 weeks. At week 6, one group of rats received an i.p.injection of hydrogel-WJ-MSC-melatonin combination (injection group), while another group received hydrogel-WJ-MSC-melatonin combination carried by a fibrous scaffold, directly applied to the liver surface (implantation group). After 21 days of treatment period, all rats were sacrificed. Blood serum samples and liver tissues were examined by histological, ultrastructural and biochemical analyses (Bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum). Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. TAA administration led to significant increase in hepatocellular vacuolization, leukocyte infiltration and vasocongestion. Injection and implantation treatments significantly reduced the hepatocellular vacuolization and vasocongestion. Leukocyte infiltration remained significantly higher compared to the control group. An increased collagen accumulation with TAA and a decreased collagen in the implantation group were detected. In injury group, serum levels of ALT, AST, and TB were significantly increased compared to the control and MSC groups. However, ALT and AST levels were significantly decreased in the injection and implantation groups compared to the injury group. MDA, MPO and SOD were significantly increased in injury group compared to control group, while MDA and SOD were significantly reduced in the implantation group. These results suggest that the fibrous scaffold with stem cells and melatonin-loaded hydrogel may offer a promising approach for the treatment of liver degeneration.
This study was supported by Acıbadem Univ. ABAPKO-TDK, 2024-2153.