‘Humanized mice’ help in study of cirrhosis

CHINESE researchers have made great advances in the study of liver cirrhosis development induced by hepatitis B virus infection.

They have developed what they term a “humanized mouse model.”

Developing an ideal animal model of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is difficult because the virus mostly infects humans.

Previous studies show that mesenchymal stem cells from human bone marrow (hBMSCs) have the potential to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in vitro and continue to maintain essential hepatocyte functions in vivo after being transplanted into host mouse livers.

Hepatocytes make up 70 to 85 percent of liver mass.

Researchers from China’s Xiamen University and Zhejiang University transplanted hBMSCs into mice.

After HBV infection, the humanized mice developed specific immune and inflammatory responses and showed progression to chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis.

The researchers said the new humanized mouse model replicates the liver cirrhosis induced by human HBV infection, providing opportunities for better understanding the immune pathophysiology of HBV and testing promising antiviral therapies in vivo.

(Xinhua)