A study about immunomodulatory effect and efficacy and prognosis of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B-induced decompensated liver cirrhosis

Abstract

Background and aim: The aim of our study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effect and short-term efficacy and long-term prognosis of decompensated liver cirrhosis patients caused by hepatitis B after a double transplantation with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs).

Methods: Fifty inpatients were recruited and given the same medical treatments, receiving hUCMSCs injection intravenously. Fifty-three patients (Group B) matched for age, sex, and baseline alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, total bilirubin, prothrombin time, and model for end-stage liver disease score and Child-Pugh classification, acted as the control group.

Results: Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels markedly decreased, and interleukin-10 level apparently increased in Group A at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment. Transforming growth factor beta in Group A increased more remarkably at 2 weeks after treatment. T4 cells and Treg cells in Group A were apparently higher than those in Group B at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment, and T8 cells and B cells were significantly lower than those in Group B. Aspartate aminotransferase levels in Group A were dramatically declining at 8 and 12 weeks after treatment. Levels of albumin, total bilirubin, and prothrombin time in Group A were apparently improved from 4 to 12 weeks after treatment. The improvements in model for end-stage liver disease and Child-Pugh scores in Group A were notably superior to those in Group B from 4 to 36 weeks after treatment. There were no remarkable differences in the incidence of developing liver failure throughout the follow-up period, but the mortality rate of Group A was lower than that of Group B.

Conclusion: This therapeutic method may be an appropriate choice for patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

Keywords: cytokine; decompensated liver cirrhosis; efficacy; immunomodulatory; lymphocyte subsets; mesenchymal stem cell; prognosis.