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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 28, 2007; 13(28): 3886-3891
Published online Jul 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i28.3886
Selective tropism of liver stem cells to hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo
Xiao-Gang Zhong, Sheng He, Wu Yin, Jing-Yu Deng, Bo Cheng
Xiao-Gang Zhong, Department of General Surgery, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
Sheng He, Jing-Yu Deng, Bo Cheng, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Wu Yin, Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Xiao-Gang Zhong, Department of General Surgery, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. zhong.xiaogang@163.com
Telephone: +86-13481065685 Fax: +86-771-2186306
Received: January 24, 2007
Revised: January 5, 2007
Accepted: January 14, 2007
Published online: July 28, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the selective tropism of liver stem cells to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in an animal model and its feasibility as a vector to deliver therapeutic genes for targeted therapy of HCC.

METHODS: WB-F344, a kind of rat liver stem cell, was infected with recombinant virus to establish a cell line with stable, high-level expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). An animal model of HCC in Wistar rats was established by implanting HCC cells (CBRH7919) combined with an immunosuppressive drug. EGFP labeled liver stem cells were injected into caudal veins of the animals and distribution was observed at different time points after injection. SDF-1 and c-kit expression in non-tumor liver and tumor tissue were analysed by immunohistochemistry for the relationshiop between the expression and migration of liver stem cells. Furthermore, hepatic stem cells were injected via the portal vein, hepatic artery, caudal vein, or directly into the pericancerous liver tissue, respectively, and effects on migration, localization, and proliferation of the hepatic stem cells within the tumor tissue were observed and analyzed.

RESULTS: Recombinant adenovirus could deliver the EGFP gene to hepatic stem cells. A new stem cell line, named WB-EGFP, was established that stably expressed EGFP. WB-EGFP cells still showed selective tropism towards HCC and EGFP expression was stable in vivo. According to immunohistochemistry results, SDF-1 may not be related to the mechanisms of tropism of hepatic stem cells. Different application sites affected the distribution of liver stem cells. Injection via the portal vein was superior with regard to selective migration, localization, and proliferation of the hepatic stem cells within the tumor tissue.

CONCLUSION: Liver stem cells have the biological behavior of selective migration to HCC in vivo and they could localize and proliferate within HCC tissue stably expressing the target gene. Liver stem cells are a potential tool for a targeted gene therapy of HCC.

Keywords: Liver; Stem cells; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Vector; Tropism; Gene therapy