The Application of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Liver Diseases: Mechanism, Efficacy, and Safety Issues

Ya Yang; Yalei Zhao; Lingjian Zhang; Fen Zhang; Lanjuan Li

doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.655268

The Application of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Liver Diseases: Mechanism, Efficacy, and Safety Issues

Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 May 31:8:655268. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.655268. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Ya Yang¹, Yalei Zhao¹, Lingjian Zhang¹, Fen Zhang¹, Lanjuan Li¹

Affiliation

¹ State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is a novel treatment for liver diseases due to the roles of MSCs in regeneration, fibrosis inhibition and immune regulation. However, the mechanisms are still not completely understood. Despite the significant efficacy of MSC therapy in animal models and preliminary clinical trials, issues remain. The efficacy and safety of MSC-based therapy in the treatment of liver diseases remains a challenging issue that requires more investigation. This article reviews recent studies on the mechanisms of MSCs in liver diseases and the associated challenges and suggests potential future applications.

Keywords: efficacy; liver diseases; mechanism; mesenchymal stem cells; safety.

Publication types

Review