The use of cerium oxide nanoparticles in liver disorders: A double-sided coin?

Being recognized as the first antioxidant nanoparticles (NPs) proposed for medicine, cerium oxide NPs (CeO2 NPs) have recently gained tremendous attention for their vast biomedical applications. Nevertheless, inconsistent reports of either medical benefits or toxicity have created an atmosphere of uncertainty hindering their clinical utilization. Like other NPs advocated as a promising protective/therapeutic option, CeO2 NPs are sometimes questioned as a health threat. As CeO2 NPs tend to accumulate in the liver after intravenous injection, liver is known to represent the key tissue to test for their therapeutic/toxicological effects. However, more research evidence is still needed before any conclusions can be elicited about the mechanisms by which CeO2 NPs could be harmful or protective/therapeutic to the liver tissue. A proper understanding of such discrepancies is warranted to plan for further modifications to mitigate any side effects. Therefore, in this MiniReview, we tried to demonstrate the two sides of the same coin, CeO2 NPs, within the liver context. As well, we highlighted a few promising strategies by which the negatives of CeO2 NPs could be diminished while enhancing all the positives.

The Therapeutic Potential of Extracellular Vesicles Versus Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Liver Damage.

BACKGROUND: The extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold significant potential as a novel alternative to whole-cell therapy. We herein compare the therapeutic potential of BM-MSCs versus their EVs (MSC-EVs) in an experimental Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage rat model. METHODS: Rats with liver damage received a single IV injection of MSC-EVs, 1 million MSCs, or 3 million MSCs. The therapeutic efficacy of each treatment was assessed using liver histopathology, liver function tests and immunohistochemistry for liver fibrosis and hepatocellular injury. RESULTS: Animals that received an injection of either MSCs-EVs or 3 million MSCs depicted significant regression of collagen deposition in the liver tissue and marked attenuation of hepatocellular damage, both structurally and functionally. CONCLUSION: Similar to high doses of MSC-based therapy (3 million MSCs), MSC-EVs mitigated the fibrogenesis and hepatocellular injury in a rat model of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. The anti-fibrinogenic effect was induced by attenuating hepatic stellate cell activation. Therefore, the administration of MSC-EVs could be considered as a candidate cell-free therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis and hepatocellular damage.