Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Acute Liver Failure

Abstract

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a severe liver disease syndrome with rapid deterioration and high mortality. Liver transplantation is the most effective treatment, but the lack of donor livers and the high cost of transplantation limit its broad application. In recent years, there has been no breakthrough in the treatment of ALF, and the application of stem cells in the treatment of ALF is a crucial research field. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used in disease treatment research due to their abundant sources, low immunogenicity, and no ethical restrictions. Although MSCs are effective for treating ALF, the application of MSCs to ALF needs to be further studied and optimized. In this review, we discuss the potential mechanisms of MSCs therapy for ALF, summarize some methods to enhance the efficacy of MSCs, and explore optimal approaches for MSC transplantation.

Keywords: Acute liver failure; Hepatocyte-like cells; Immunomodulation; Mesenchymal stem cells.

Fig. 1

Mechanism and procedural improvement of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the treatment of acute liver failure. NKT, natural killer T; A2AR, adenosine A2A receptor; IL-1Ra, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist; G-CSF, granulocyte colony stimulating factor.