title: Liver diseases: what is known so far about the therapy with human amniotic membrane?
abstract: Liver, the largest intern organ of the human body, is responsible for several vital tasks such as digestive and excretory functions, as well as for nutrients storage and metabolic functions, synthesis of new molecules and purification of toxic chemicals. Cirrhosis, fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are the most prevalent liver diseases. Despite all the studies performed so far, treatment options for these diseases are very limited. For this reason, it is urgent to find effective therapies for these pathologies. Several studies have been performed during the last decade about the possible application of human amniotic membrane in hepatic diseases therapy. Promising results about human amniotic membrane or its derived cells, in vitro and in vivo, applications in fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma were already published. Since it is an attractive study area, it is becoming a dynamic scientific subject. However, the action mechanisms of human amniotic membrane and its derived cells in hepatic diseases therapy must be precisely known in order that this promising therapy could be clinically used.
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba - Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba - Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal. ana_mamede@hotmail.com.|CICS-UBI, Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal. ana_mamede@hotmail.com.|CIMAGO, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. ana_mamede@hotmail.com.|CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. ana_mamede@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana Catarina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Mamede
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba - Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.|CIMAGO, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|Obstetrics Service, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria João
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba - Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.|CIMAGO, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mafalda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laranjo
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba - Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.|CIMAGO, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|Surgical Department A, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Guilherme
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Tralhão
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba - Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.|CIMAGO, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Margarida
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abrantes
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI, Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cláudio Jorge
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba - Celas, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.|CIMAGO, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Filomena
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Botelho
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Cirrhosis; Fibrosis; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Human amniotic membrane; Liver diseases