Clinical application of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells in liver transplantation patients / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the immunoregulatory effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be used to induce immune tolerance. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (hUC-MSCs) in liver transplantation patients. METHODS: hUC-MSCs were cultured and identified. After approved by the Medical Ethics Committee, a total of 50 patients were randomly divided into experimental group and control group according to the proportion of 11. In the experimental group, hUC-MSCs were perfused by the portal vein during the operation and infused into the jugular vein on the 3rd day after the operation. The injection dose was 1×106/kg (prepared as 50 mL of cell suspension). Both groups received standard immunosuppressive regimens. Blood biochemistry and immune function indicators were detected preoperatively and at postoperative days 3, 7, months 1, 2, 3, 6, 12. Acute and chronic rejection rates, incidence of infection, and incidence of transplantation-related complications were recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) At 3 and 7 days after the operation, the percentage of peripheral blood CD4+CD25+ cells (regulatory T cells) in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P 0.05). (3) The incidence of abnormal liver function in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P 0.05). Overall, the intravenous infusion of hUC-MSCs is safe and feasible in liver transplantation patients, which in early stage can promote the the proliferation and activation of CD4+CD25+ cells (regulatory T cells), reduce the percentage of CD4+ cells (helper/inducer T cells) and lower the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells, thereby improving the immune status in liver transplantation patients.