title: [Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and their association with liver fibrosis].
abstract: At present, the most effective therapeutic method for end-stage liver fibrosis is liver transplantation. However, the application of liver transplantation is limited by a shortage of liver donors, a high incidence rate of surgical complications, graft-versus-host disease, and high medical costs. Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (UC-MSC) transplantation may become a promising method for the treatment of liver diseases. UC-MSCs are adult stem cells which exhibit multipotential differentiation and can differentiate into hepatic parenchymal cells. Due to their functions including immune regulation and secretion of trophic factors, UC-MSCs can inhibit immune response, promote hepatocyte regeneration, alleviate the progression of liver fibrosis, and improve liver function. In addition, compared with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, UC-MSCs have abundant sources, noninvasive collection, and high safety and thus they are attracting more and more attention. This article reviews the characteristics of UC-MSCs and their mechanism of action in the treatment of liver fibrosis, as well as risks of UC-MSCs therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Chengdu Military Region, Chengdu 610083.
authors.forename: W Z
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Chengdu Military Region, Chengdu 610083.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: X L
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000628:therapy*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology*
keywords: Liver fibrosis; Therapeutics; Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells