Objective: To review the development of the liver stem cell transplant for the liver regenerative treatment.
Methods: The transplantation-related articles about the stem cell classification, repairing mechanisms, administration routes, and existing problems in the liver regenerative therapies reported in the latest literature were extensively reviewed.
Results: The related liver-repairing stem cells were found to be inside and outside the liver, i. e. , the hepatic stem cells and the non-hepatic stem cells. They could repair the liver by the mechanism of the cell fusion or the cell transdifferentiation. The stem cells could be administrated via the portal vein. However, the application of the liver stem cell transplant was restricted by many related clinical problems.
Conclusion: Further studies are still needed for an improvement of the clinical feasibility for the stem cell transplantation, especially for the liver stem cell transplantation.