Open AccessHuman Liver-Derived Stem Cells Improve Fibrosis and Inflammation Associated with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
Author(s) -
Stefania Bruno,
Maria Beatriz Herrera Sanchez,
Chiara Pasquino,
Marta Tapparo,
Massimo Cedrino,
Ciro Tetta,
Giovanni Camussi
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
stem cells international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.205
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1687-9678
pISSN - 1687-966X
DOI - 10.1155/2019/6351091
Subject(s) - mesenchymal stem cell , nonalcoholic fatty liver disease , inflammation , medicine , stem cell , steatohepatitis , nonalcoholic steatohepatitis , liver biopsy , pathology , fibrosis , phenotype , liver transplantation , stromal cell , population , liver disease , liver function , cancer research , biopsy , transplantation , immunology , biology , fatty liver , disease , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , environmental health
Cell therapy may be regarded as a feasible alternative to whole organ transplantation to treat end-stage liver diseases. Human liver stem cells (HLSCs) are a population of cells easily obtainable and expandable from a human adult liver biopsy. HLSCs share with mesenchymal stromal cells the same phenotype, gene expression profile, and differentiation capabilities. In addition, HLSCs show a specific commitment to the hepatic phenotype. Injection of HLSCs into immunodeficient mice fed with a methionine-choline-deficient diet to induce nonalcoholic steatohepatitis ameliorates liver function and morphology. In particular, HLSC treatment induced a reduction of liver fibrosis and inflammation at morphological and molecular levels. Moreover, HLSCs were able to persist for up to 3 weeks after the injection. In conclusion, HLSCs have healing effects in a model of chronic liver disease.