Mesenchymal stem cells: the cell replacement therapy for liver cirrhosis / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Cirrhosis is an advanced stage of liver fibrosis that causes fatal complications and and threats human health.Liver transplantation is the preferred treatment method of cirrhosis patients,but the therapeutic effect of liver transplantation is limited.In recent years,researchers at home and abroad have proposed the concept of cell replacement therapy for liver cirrhosis.Among them,mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have a wide range of sources,the MSCs can inhibit immunity and reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines,and they can also be induced to differentiate into hepatocytes to mitigate fibrosis,which become the preferred drug of cell replacement therapy for cirrhosis.Here,we mainly reviewed the mesenchymal stem cells from the features,the mechanisms of treatment for cirrhosis,and recent experimental studies and clinical trials.