BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (hTERT) transfection can significantly extend the life cycle of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels so that the cels can continue to maintain pluripotency. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of hTERT gene-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels on hepatocyte proliferation and apoptosis. METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels from rats were isolated and cultured using direct adherent method. Then, hTERT eukaryotic expression plasmid, pCIneo-hTERT, was transferred into the cels using liposome transfection method. The hTERT-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels were co-cultured with hepatocytes at 1:1 (observation group), and meanwhile, non-transfected bone marrow mesenchyam stem cels were co-cultured with hepatocytes at 1:1 (control group), and hepatocytes cultured alone served as single culture group. Effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels on hepatocyte proliferation and apoptosis were observed by MTT assay and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The proliferative rate of hepatocytes was significantly higher in the observation group than the control and single culture groups (P < 0.05), and the survival rate of hepatocytes was significantly higher in the observation group than the single culture group (P < 0.05). Experimental findings suggest hTERT-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels can inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis but promote hepatocyte proliferation, so as to improve hepatocyte function.%背景：研究表明人端粒酶反转录酶基因的导入可以使骨髓间充质干细胞的生命周期得到显著延长，使其能够继续保持多向分化潜能。 目的：探讨人端粒酶反转录酶基因修饰骨髓间充质干细胞对肝细胞增殖和凋亡的影响。 方法：采取直接贴壁法，分离、培养大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞，利用脂质体转染法，将编码hTERT基因的真核表达质粒pCIneo-hTERT导入骨髓间充质干细胞。将hTERT基因转染骨髓间充质干细胞与肝细胞按1︰1共培养(观察共培养组)，同时设未转染骨髓间充质干细胞与肝细胞按1︰1共培养组(对照共培养组)和肝细胞单独培养组，采用MTT比色法和免疫荧光染色法观察骨髓间充质干细胞对肝细胞增殖和凋亡的影响。 结果与结论：观察共培养组的肝细胞增殖率明显高于对照共培养组和肝细胞单独培养组，差异有显著性意义(P <0.05)；观察共培养组的肝细胞存活率明显高于肝细胞单独培养组，差异有显著性意义(P <0.05)。结果表明人端粒酶反转录酶基因修饰的骨髓间充质干细胞可以抑制肝细胞的凋亡，并促进其增殖，具有改善肝细胞功能的作用。
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