To explore the protection of Nrf2-overexpressing human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in mice.

A model of partial (70%) hepatic IRI was constructed. HUCMSCs were isolated, cultured and identified, and Nrf2-overexpressing lentiviral was constructed. 40 healthy male C57 mice of SPF grade were randomly divided into 4 groups according to the random number table: Sham group, IRI group, IRI+GFP-HUCMSCs group, and IRI+Nrf2-HUCMSCs group. For IRI+GFP-HUCMSCs and IRI+Nrf2-HUCMSCs group, 1×10⁶ GFP-HUCMSCs, and 100 μl of Nrf2-HUCMSCs cell suspension were injected in the inferior vena cava of mice respectively after 90 min of ischemia. The mice were executed after 12 or 24 h of reperfusion, and then blood was taken from the inferior vena cava for ALT and AST test. Liver injury and cell apoptosis were observed through HE and TUNEL staining of liver tissue. Transaminases levels of each group were compared using univariate analysis and LSD-t test.

After 12 h of reperfusion, hepatocyte damage was significantly milder in the IRI+Nrf2-HUCMSCs group than that in the IRI and GFP-HUCMSCs groups. After 24 h of reperfusion, inflammatory cell infiltration receded and recovered more quickly in the IRI+Nrf2-HUCMSCs group. After 12 hof reperfusion, the ALT and AST levels were respectively (1 472±540), (1 592±596) U/L in the IRI+Nrf2-HUCMSCs group, which were significantly lower than (4 700±1 526), (5 464±1 210) U/L in the IRI+GFP-HUCMSCs group, and (7 452±1 637), (6 928±2 439) U/L in the IRI group (LSD-t=-4.460, -7.757 and -6.420, -4.753; P<0.05). After 12 h of reperfusion, the rate of hepatocyte apoptosis was (40±6)% in the IRI+Nrf2-HUCMSCs group, significantly lower than (79±6)% in the IRI+GFP-HUCMSCs group and (103±6)% in the IRI group (LSD-t=-8.162, -13.040; P<0.05).

HUCMSCs overexpressing Nrf2 may exert certain protective effects on hepatic IRI by reducing the hepatocyte apoptosis in healthy mice.