title: Current status of stem cell therapy for liver diseases.
abstract: 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.
authors: Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors: Bruno Solano de Freitas
authors: BS
authors: Souza
authors: Renata Campos
authors: RC
authors: Nogueira
authors: Sheilla Andrade
authors: SA
authors: de Oliveira
authors: Luiz Antonio Rodrigues
authors: LA
authors: de Freitas
authors: Luiz Guilherme Costa
authors: LG
authors: Lyra
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: Ribeiro dos Santos
authors: Andre Castro
authors: AC
authors: Lyra
authors: Milena Botelho Pereira
authors: MB
authors: Soares
mesh_terms: 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