Therapeutic Effects of Korean Red Ginseng Extract in Egyptian Patients with Chronic Liver Diseases

Abstract Background: Although it has been pre-clinically suggested that adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ADSCs)-based therapy could effectively treat chronic liver diseases, the hepatic engraftment of ADSCs is still extremely low, which severely limits their long-term efficacy for chronic liver diseases. This study was designed to investigate the impact of antioxidant preconditioning on hepatic engraftment efficiency and therapeutic outcomes of ADSC transplantation in liver fibrotic mice. Methods: Liver fibrosis model was established by using intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) in the male C57BL/6 mice. Subsequently, the ADSCs with or without antioxidant pretreatment (including melatonin and reduced glutathione (GSH)) were administrated into fibrotic mice via tail vein injection. Afterwards, the ADSC transplantation efficiency was analyzed by ex vivo imaging, and the liver functions were assessed by biochemical analysis and histopathological examination, respectively. Additionally, a typical hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )-induced cell injury model was applied to mimic the cell oxidative injury to further investigate the protective effects of antioxidant preconditioning on cell migration, proliferation and apoptosis of ADSCs. Results: Our data showed that antioxidant preconditioning could enhance the therapeutic effects of ADSCs on liver function recovery by reducing the level of AST, ALT and TBIL, as well as the content of hepatic hydroxyproline and fibrotic area in liver tissues. Particularly, we also found that antioxidant preconditioning could enhance hepatic engraftment efficiency of ADSCs in liver fibrosis model through inhibiting oxidative injury. Conclusions: Antioxidant preconditioning could effectively improve therapeutic effects of ADSC transplantation for liver fibrosis through enhancing intrahepatic engraftment efficiency by reducing oxidative injuries. These findings might provide a practical strategy for enhancing ADSC transplantation and therapeutic efficiency.

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Enumeration, isolation, and electron microscopic study of hematopoietic stem cells in Egyptian patients with chronic liver diseases

Comparative Clinical Pathology ◽

10.1007/s00580-011-1295-3 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 1349-1359

Author(s):

Iman Maher Mansor ◽

Lobna Yossif Ghanem ◽

Manal Mohamed Makhlouf

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Hematopoietic Stem Cells ◽

Microscopic Study ◽

Electron Microscopic Study ◽

Liver Diseases ◽

Chronic Liver ◽

Chronic Liver Diseases ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Egyptian Patients

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The correlation between the autotaxin enzyme and pruritus in Egyptian patients suffering from chronic liver disease

Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1871523020666210114092924 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

Author(s):

Fathia Asal ◽

Dina Ziada ◽

Ayman Wageh ◽

Mohammed El-Kohy ◽

Nehad Hawash ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liver Disease ◽

Chronic Liver Disease ◽

Liver Diseases ◽

Chronic Liver ◽

Control Group ◽

P Value ◽

Chronic Liver Diseases ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Egyptian Patients ◽

Glutamyl Transferase

Background &Aims: Pruritus associated with liver diseases limits daily activities and causes sleep deprivation in patients with chronic liver diseases. Autotoxin enzyme (ATX) was found to be higher in sera of patients with intra-hepatic cholestasis and it was found to be associated with the intensity of itching. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between the autotaxin enzyme and pruritus in Egyptian patients suffering from chronic liver disease (CLD). Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried on a total number of 80 patients with chronic liver disease divided into four groups: Group A and B included cirrhotic patients suffering from pruritis with and without cholestasis while group C and D included patients without pruritis with or without cholestasis and group E included 17 healthy controls. They were subjected to measurement of serum autotoxin concentration by ELISA in addition to routine investigations including liver function tests: Total and direct bilirubin, ALT, AST, Alkaline phosphatase, Gama- glutamyl transferase, and serum albumin. Results: There was a significant increase in autotaxin in the four groups included chronic liver disease patients (P value <0.001*) compared to control group (group E). Autotoxin level was the only marker which had a significant increase in pruritus groups (groups A & B) compared to non-pruritus groups (groups C & D) with cut off value ≥ 32. Conclusion: Serum autotaxin level was elevated in patients with chronic liver diseases with pruritus. Autotaxin enzyme may play a key role in the induction of hepatogenic pruritus. So, autotaxin enzyme inhibitors and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor blockers could be a future line of treatment of hepatogenic pruritus.

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