LIVER DISEASES
Acute liver failure and chronic liver disease are severe medical conditions that can significantly negatively impact a person’s health. In recent years, regenerative medicine and stem cell therapies have emerged as potential treatments for these conditions. Although the liver already has an extraordinary regenerative capacity, viral infections, drugs, toxins, metabolic disorders, and genetic and immune diseases can all cause acute liver failure or can lead to chronic inflammation and cirrhosis even with the indicated medical and surgical management. For many patients, liver transplantation is not an accessible option due to the scarcity of donors, complications related to immunosuppression, and the complexity and high cost of surgery (1).
Through the targeted application of stem cells at the point of treatment, stem cells can differentiate into beneficial, regenerative cells. Regenerative medicine is a field of medicine that focuses on the regeneration of tissues and organs.
There is evidence that stem cells can help to regenerate liver tissue and improve liver function found in animal models of liver disease (2, 3). In a study of rats with chronic liver injury, stem cells derived from the bone marrow improved liver function and reduced inflammation (4). Another study concluded that stem cells injected into the liver of mice with acute liver failure helped to regenerate liver tissue and improve survival rates (5).
Several clinical trials are underway investigating the use of stem cells in treating liver diseases. One trial is studying the safety and efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the treatment of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (6). Another trial investigates the use of human embryonic stem cells in treating patients with acute liver failure (7).
Although the results of these studies are promising, it is essential to note that they are still in the early stages, and more research is underway to understand the efficacy of these treatments. Nevertheless, regenerative medicine and stem cell therapies are promising for treating liver diseases.
References:
1. Lee WM. Drug-induced liver injury: the role of immunology. Hepatology. 2009 Apr;49(4):1239-47.
2. Hwang JY, et al. Mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate experimental autoimmune hepatitis by suppressing Th17 and Th1 cell development. J Immunol. 2008 Jul 1;181(1):596-605.
3. Kim YJ, et al. The anti-inflammatory effect of adipose tissue-derived stem cells on experimental autoimmune hepatitis. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009 Apr;24(4):652-9.
4. Fang ZY, et al. Repair of chronic liver injury by allogeneic bone marrow stem cells in rats. World J Gastroenterol. 2006 Feb 7;12(5):838-42.
5. Zhou J, et al. Survival of mice with fulminant hepatic failure after intraportal transplantation of human embryonic stem cells. Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Jul;21(7):765-9.
6. ClinicalTrials.gov. Mesenchymal Stem Cell Treatment for Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). httpsss://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02597116
7. ClinicalTrials.gov. Treatment of Acute Liver Failure With Human Embryonic Stem Cells. httpsss://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01054378
8. Liu J, et al. Clinical application of mesenchymal stem cells in liver diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cell Transplant. 2016 Jul;25(7):1597-612.
9. Zou J, et al. Clinical application of stem cells in liver diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Gastroenterol. 2016 Apr 7;22(13):3137-48.
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Stem cell therapy does not provide a guarantee and is not advertised as a treatment for any cures. This is similar to many other traditional medical treatments. A patient history review is required to determine eligibility and approval for stem cell therapy as an aid to the patient’s body towards supporting the body’s own healing process, if and when possible. All personal information provided is for internal and medical use only by our healthcare providers. Headquartered in Deleware, USA, REJUV, INC. is a resource company and network supplier for REJUVSTEM in Guadalajara and Cancun, Mexico. Rejuv, Inc. is not a stem cell therapy facility or surgical center. These advanced treatments have not yet been approved by the FDA, so they are not available in our office or in the United States. All cell therapies are carried out in Mexico, as regulated by the Ministry of Health, COFERPIS, and other local governments. All treatments are carried out within the legal and regulatory framework of the country in which the particular healthcare provider operates.
