Korean J Intern Med.  2015 Sep;30(5):580-589. 10.3904/kjim.2015.30.5.580.

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for liver fibrosis

• Eom YW
• Shim KY
• Baik SK

• KMID: 2381555
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2015.30.5.580

Abstract

Currently, the most effective treatment for end-stage liver fibrosis is liver transplantation; however, transplantation is limited by a shortage of donor organs, surgical complications, immunological rejection, and high medical costs. Recently, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has been suggested as an effective alternate approach for the treatment of hepatic diseases. MSCs have the potential to differentiate into hepatocytes, and therapeutic value exists in their immune-modulatory properties and secretion of trophic factors, such as growth factors and cytokines. In addition, MSCs can suppress inflammatory responses, reduce hepatocyte apoptosis, increase hepatocyte regeneration, regress liver fibrosis and enhance liver functionality. Despite these advantages, issues remain; MSCs also have fibrogenic potential and the capacity to promote tumor cell growth and oncogenicity. This paper summarizes the properties of MSCs for regenerative medicine and their therapeutic mechanisms and clinical application in the treatment of liver fibrosis. We also present several outstanding risks, including their fibrogenic potential and their capacity to promote pre-existing tumor cell growth and oncogenicity.

Keyword

Liver cirrhosis; Mesenchymal stromal cells; Immune modulation; Trophic factors; Anti-fibrosis

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cell Differentiation
Cell Proliferation
Hepatocytes/immunology/metabolism/pathology/*transplantation
Humans
Liver/immunology/metabolism/pathology/physiopathology/*surgery
Liver Cirrhosis/diagnosis/immunology/metabolism/physiopathology/*surgery
Liver Regeneration
*Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects
*Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/immunology/metabolism/pathology
Phenotype
Regenerative Medicine/*methods
Risk Factors
Signal Transduction
Treatment Outcome