title: The Therapeutic Promise of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Liver Restoration.
abstract: Hepatocyte transplantation aims to provide a functional substitution of liver tissue lost due to trauma or toxins. Chronic liver diseases are associated with inflammation, deterioration of tissue homeostasis, and deprivation of metabolic capacity. Recent advances in liver biology have focused on the pro-regenerative features of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). We argue that MSCs represent an attractive therapeutic option to treat liver disease. Indeed, their pleiotropic actions include the modulation of immune reactions, the stimulation of cell proliferation, and the attenuation of cell death responses. These characteristics are highly warranted add-ons to their capacity for hepatocyte differentiation. Undoubtedly, the elucidation of the regenerative mechanisms of MSCs in different liver diseases will promote their versatile and disease-specific therapeutic use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Visceral, Transplantation, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Leipzig, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: bruno.christ@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Christ
authors.affiliation: Department of Visceral, Transplantation, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Leipzig, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brückner
authors.affiliation: Department of Visceral, Transplantation, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Leipzig, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Winkler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
keywords: differentiation; hepatocyte; liver disease; stem cell therapy