Applications of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Liver Fibrosis: Novel Strategies, Mechanisms, and Clinical Practice - PubMed (original) (raw)

Review

. 2021 Aug 10:2021:6546780.

doi: 10.1155/2021/6546780. eCollection 2021.

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Review

Applications of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Liver Fibrosis: Novel Strategies, Mechanisms, and Clinical Practice

Mengmei Zhu et al. Stem Cells Int. 2021.

Abstract

Liver fibrosis is a common result of most chronic liver diseases, and advanced fibrosis often leads to cirrhosis. Currently, there is no effective treatment for liver cirrhosis except liver transplantation. Therefore, it is important to carry out antifibrosis treatment to reverse liver damage in the early stage of liver fibrosis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the most widely used stem cells in the field of regenerative medicine. The preclinical and clinical research results of MSCs in the treatment of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis show that MSC administration is a promising treatment for liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. MSCs reverse liver fibrosis and increase liver function mainly through differentiation into hepatocytes, immune regulation, secretion of cytokines and other nutritional factors, reduction of hepatocyte apoptosis, and promotion of hepatocyte regeneration. Recently, many studies provided a variety of new methods and strategies to improve the effect of MSCs in the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this review, we summarized the current effective methods and strategies and their potential mechanisms of MSCs in the treatment of liver fibrosis, as well as the current research progress in clinical practice. We expect to achieve complete reversal of liver injury with MSC-based therapy in the future.

Copyright © 2021 Mengmei Zhu et al.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Sources of mesenchymal stem cells and novel strategies for the applications of MSCs in liver fibrosis. MSCs can be obtained from various sources, including bone marrow, placenta, adipose tissue, kidney, and the tonsil. Autologous and allogeneic MSCs have different therapeutic characteristics.

Figure 2

Figure 2

The potential mechanisms of MSC-based therapy in liver fibrosis. MSCs have various effects including the differentiation of hepatocytes and the regulation of inflammation response. Additionally, MSCs affect the regenerative process through autophagy and paracrine effects.

Figure 3

Figure 3

Recent trends in clinical trials using MSCs. Proportion of country (a), disease conditions (b), autologous or allogeneic (c), and sources of MSCs (d) in recent clinical trials.

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