Current status of stem cell therapy for liver diseases.
Liver failure is one of the main causes of death worldwide and is a growing health problem. Since the discovery of stem cell populations capable of differentiating into specialized cell types, including hepatocytes, the possibility of their utilization in the regeneration of the damaged liver has been a focus of intense investigation. A variety of cell types were tested both in vitro and in vivo, but the definition of a more suitable cell preparation for therapeutic use in each type of liver lesions is yet to be determined. Here we review the protocols described for differentiation of stem cells into hepatocytes, the results of cell therapy in animal models of liver diseases, as well as the available data of the clinical trials in patients with advanced chronic liver disease.
Souza
Bruno Solano de Freitas
BS
Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
Nogueira
Renata Campos
RC
de Oliveira
Sheilla Andrade
SA
de Freitas
Luiz Antonio Rodrigues
LA
Lyra
Luiz Guilherme Costa
LG
Ribeiro dos Santos
Ricardo
R
Lyra
Andre Castro
AC
Soares
Milena Botelho Pereira
MB
D002454:Cell Differentiation; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology