Endogenous Follistatin-like 1 guarantees the immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells during liver fibrotic therapy.

ABSTRACT: Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has been shown to be a promising option for liver fibrosis treatment. However, critical factors affecting the efficacy of MSC therapy for liver fibrosis remain unknown. Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1), a TGF-β-induced matricellular protein, is documented as an intrinsic regulator of proliferation and differentiation in MSCs. In the present study, we characterized the potential role of FSTL1 in MSC-based anti-fibrotic therapy and further elucidated the mechanisms underlying its action. Human umbilical cord-derived MSCs were characterized by flow cytometry. FSTL1low MSCs were achieved by FSTL1 siRNA. Migration capacity was evaluated by wound-healing and transwell assay. A murine liver fibrotic model was created by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) injection, while co

SUBMITTER: Zheng X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9356430 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature