Stem cell transplantation for treatment of liver diseases: From biological foundations to clinical experience (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Gennady T. Sukhikh
    • Alexander A. Shtil
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 1, 2003     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.11.3.395
  • Pages: 395-400
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Abstract

The insufficiency of liver functions remains one of the major causes of death in different regions of the world. This syndrome is an ultimate outcome of irreversible damage of liver parenchyma by a variety of stimuli such as environmental toxins and microbial metabolites. The acute and/or chronic inflammation caused by these agents leads to massive apoptosis of hepatocytes, highly specialized polyfunctional epithelial cells. A decrease in the number of hepatocytes below the critical level dictates the necessity of supplanting the exogenous viable cells. Such cells must fulfill two major requirements: i) they should be capable of proliferating in the recipient's liver, and ii) they should differentiate into mature (i.e, functionally competent) hepatocytes. Evidence is growing in support of the role of early pluripotent precursors (stem cells of various origin) as a unique source for transplantation. This review analyses the state-of-the-art in the fields of developmental biology, cytology, molecular physiology and biochemistry of fetal stem cells with the emphasis on their use in experimental models of liver insufficiency. These biological considerations validate the therapeutic manipulations with fetal cells in clinical trials.

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March 2003
Volume 11 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Sukhikh GT and Sukhikh GT: Stem cell transplantation for treatment of liver diseases: From biological foundations to clinical experience (Review). Int J Mol Med 11: 395-400, 2003
APA
Sukhikh, G.T., & Sukhikh, G.T. (2003). Stem cell transplantation for treatment of liver diseases: From biological foundations to clinical experience (Review). International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 11, 395-400. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.11.3.395
MLA
Sukhikh, G. T., Shtil, A. A."Stem cell transplantation for treatment of liver diseases: From biological foundations to clinical experience (Review)". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 11.3 (2003): 395-400.
Chicago
Sukhikh, G. T., Shtil, A. A."Stem cell transplantation for treatment of liver diseases: From biological foundations to clinical experience (Review)". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 11, no. 3 (2003): 395-400. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.11.3.395