Explore the hepatic niche: spatiotemporal analyses of mesenchymal stem cells using live imaging technique

A new and more efficient liver regeneration therapy is required. However, the details of mesenchymal stem cell migration, adhesion, and differentiation into the liver are still unknown as are the efficiency factors for the liver niche. In this study we observed the spatiotemporal dynamics of mesenchymal stem cells that were injected into the spleen and the migration, adhesion, and differentiation of the cells into the liver using multi-photon excitation microscopy. We also analyzed the essential molecules for the liver niche. Mesenchymal stem cells improve liver fibrosis but the stem cells need both their own MMP-9 for migration to the liver and also need to the local MMP-9 for migration and engraftment at the liver. Thus we confirmed that the gradient of both the extracellular matrix and CXCL12 is important.