Management of Liver Failure: From Transplantation to Cell-Based Therapy

Cell Medicine

Melchiorre Cervello¹  Maria Giovanna Francipane²  Giuseppe Montalto³  Giada Pietrosi⁴  Giovanni Battista Vizzini⁴ 

[1] *Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology “Alberto Monroy,” National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy;*Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology “Alberto Monroy,” National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy†Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy;†Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy;‡Istituto Mediterraneo Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Italy, Palermo, Italy

关键词: Intrahepatic stem cells;    Endothelial progenitor cells;    Fetal liver stem cells;    Induced pluripotent stem cells;    Bone marrow-derived stem cells;    Mesenchymal stem cells;   

DOI  :  10.3727/215517911X575993

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Cognizant Communication Corporation

【 摘 要 】

The severe shortage of deceased donor organs has driven a search for alternative methods of treating liver failure. In this context, cell-based regenerative medicine is emerging as a promising interdisciplinary field of tissue repair and restoration, able to contribute to improving health in a minimally invasive fashion. Several cell types have allowed long-term survival in experimental models of liver injury, but their therapeutic potential in humans should be regarded with deep caution, because few clinical trials are currently available and the number of patients enrolled so far is too small to assess benefits versus risks. This review summarizes the current literature on the physiological role of endogenous stem cells in liver regeneration and on the therapeutic benefits of exogenous stem cell administration with specific emphasis on the potential clinical uses of mesenchymal stem cells. Moreover, critical points that still need clarification, such as the exact identity of the stem-like cell population exerting the beneficial effects, as well as the limitations of stem cell-based therapies, are discussed.

【 授权许可】

CC BY