title: Advances in mesenchymal stem cells combined with traditional Chinese medicine therapy for liver fibrosis.
abstract: Liver fibrosis is a primary cause of liver cirrhosis, and even hepatocarcinoma. Recently, the usage of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been investigated to improve liver fibrosis. It has been reported that the differentiation, proliferation and migration of MSCs can be regulated by traditional Chinese medicine treatment; however, the mechanisms are still unclear. In this article, the authors review the characteristics of MSCs such as multidirectional differentiation and homing, and its application in animal experiments and clinical trials. The authors also list areas that need further investigation, andlook at the future prospects of clinical application of MSCs.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; E-mail: shibingsu07@163.com.
authors.forename: Shi-Bing
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology