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Review
. 2019 Jul 1:2019:3620546.
doi: 10.1155/2019/3620546. eCollection 2019.

Hyaluronan-Based Grafting Strategies for Liver Stem Cell Therapy and Tracking Methods

Lorenzo Nevi  1 , Samira Safarikia  1 , Sabina Di Matteo  1 , Francesca Biancaniello  1 , Michele Francesco Chiappetta  1 , Vincenzo Cardinale  2
Affiliations
Review

Hyaluronan-Based Grafting Strategies for Liver Stem Cell Therapy and Tracking Methods

Lorenzo Nevi et al. Stem Cells Int. .

Abstract

Cell adhesion is essential for survival, it plays important roles in physiological cell functions, and it is an innovative target in regenerative medicine. Among the molecular interactions and the pathways triggered during cell adhesion, the binding of cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), a cell-surface glycoprotein involved in cell-cell interactions, to hyaluronic acid (HA), a major component of the extracellular matrix, is a crucial step. Cell therapy has emerged as a promising treatment for advanced liver diseases; however, so far, it has led to low cell engraftment and limited cell repopulation of the target tissue. Currently, different strategies are under investigation to improve cell grafting in the liver, including the use of organic and inorganic biomatrices that mimic the microenvironment of the extracellular matrix. Hyaluronans, major components of stem cell niches, are attractive candidates for coating stem cells since they improve viability, proliferation, and engraftment in damaged livers. In this review, we will discuss the new strategies that have been adopted to improve cell grafting and track cells after transplantation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Our proposal for a cell therapy to treat cirrhotic patients. The figure shows a schematic representation of our protocol to treat cirrhotic patients that are not eligible for orthotopic liver transplantation.
Box 1
Box 1
The engraftment challenge: candidate modulators.
Box 2
Box 2
Current strategies to improve the outcome of liver cell engraftment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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