Author/Authors :
best, jan university hospital essen - department of gastroenterology and hepatology, Essen, Germany , best, jan vrije universiteit brussel (vub) - faculty of medicine and pharmacy, liver cell biology lab, Brussels, Belgium , manka, paul university hospital essen - department of gastroenterology and hepatology, Essen, Germany , manka, paul foundation for liver research - the institute of hepatology, regeneration and repair, London, UK , syn, wing-kin loyola university chicago - department of surgery, USA , syn, wing-kin barts health nhs trust, liver unit, London, UK , syn, wing-kin foundation for liver research - the institute of hepatology, regeneration and repair, London, UK , dollé, laurent vrije universiteit brussel (vub) - faculty of medicine and pharmacy, liver cell biology lab, Brussels, Belgium , grunsven, leo a. van vrije universiteit brussel (vub) - faculty of medicine and pharmacy, liver cell biology lab, Brussels, Belgium , canbay, ali university hospital essen - department of gastroenterology and hepatology, Essen, Germany
Abstract :
During massive liver injury and hepatocyte loss, the intrinsic regenerative capacity of the liver byreplication of resident hepatocytes is overwhelmed. Treatment of this condition depends on the cause of liverinjury, though in many cases liver transplantation (LT) remains the only curative option. LT for end stagechronic and acute liver diseases is hampered by shortage of donor organs and requires immunosuppression.Hepatocyte transplantation is limited by yet unresolved technical difficulties. Since currently no treatmentis available to facilitate liver regeneration directly, therapies involving the use of resident liver stem orprogenitor cells (LPCs) or non-liver stem cells are coming to fore. LPCs are quiescent in the healthyliver, but may be activated under conditions where the regenerative capacity of mature hepatocytes isseverely impaired. Non-liver stem cells include embryonic stem cells (ES cells) and mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs). In the first section, we aim to provide an overview of the role of putative cytokines, growth factors,mitogens and hormones in regulating LPC response and briefly discuss the prognostic value of the LPCresponse in clinical practice. In the latter section, we will highlight the role of other (non-liver) stem cells intransplantation and discuss advantages and disadvantages of ES cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), aswell as MSCs.
Keywords :
Liver progenitor cells (LPCs) , stem cells , mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) , hepatic stellate cells(HSCs) , liver regeneration , liver failure , liver cirrhosis
