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Review
. 2024 Sep 25;13(19):1604.
doi: 10.3390/cells13191604.

Innovative Strategies for Liver Transplantation: The Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Cell-Free Derivatives

Miho Akabane  1 , Yuki Imaoka  2 , Jun Kawashima  1 , Yutaka Endo  3 , Austin Schenk  1 , Kazunari Sasaki  2 , Timothy M Pawlik  1
Affiliations
Review

Innovative Strategies for Liver Transplantation: The Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Cell-Free Derivatives

Miho Akabane et al. Cells. .

Abstract

Despite being the standard treatment for end-stage liver disease, liver transplantation has limitations like donor scarcity, high surgical costs, and immune rejection risks. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their derivatives offer potential for liver regeneration and transplantation. MSCs, known for their multipotency, low immunogenicity, and ease of obtainability, can differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells and secrete bioactive factors that promote liver repair and reduce immune rejection. However, the clinical application of MSCs is limited by risks such as aberrant differentiation and low engraftment rates. As a safer alternative, MSC-derived secretomes and extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer promising therapeutic benefits, including enhanced graft survival, immunomodulation, and reduced ischemia-reperfusion injury. Current research highlights the efficacy of MSC-derived therapies in improving liver transplant outcomes, but further studies are necessary to standardize clinical applications. This review highlights the potential of MSCs and EVs to address key challenges in liver transplantation, paving the way for innovative therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: extracellular vesicles; liver transplantation; mesenchymal stem cells.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The role of MSCs in liver transplantation and liver regeneration.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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