Stem/progenitor cells in liver injury repair and regeneration.
Morbidity and mortality from cirrhosis is increasing rapidly in the world. Currently, orthotopic liver transplantation is the only definitive therapeutic option. However, its clinical use is limited, because of poor long-term graft survival, donor organ shortage and high costs associated with the procedure. Stem cell replacement strategies are therefore being investigated as an attractive alternative approach to liver repair and regeneration. In this review we discuss recent preclinical and clinical investigations that explore the therapeutic potential of stem cells in repair of liver injuries. Several types of stem cells. including embryonic stem cells, haematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, can be induced to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells by defined culture conditions in vitro. Stem cell transplantation has been shown to significantly improve liver function and increase animal survival in experimentally-induced liver-injury models. Moreover, several pilot clinical studies have reported encouraging therapeutic effects in patients treated with stem cells. Although there remain many unresolved issues, the available data support the notion that stem cell technology may lead to the development of effective clinical modalities for human liver diseases.
Zhao
Qinjun
Q
State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union of Medical College, Tianjin, 300020, People's Republic of China.
Ren
Hongying
H
Zhu
Delin
D
Han
Zhongchao
Z
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation; D042783:Endothelial Cells; D053686:Fetal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*