Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells improve liver function and ascites in decompensated liver cirrhosis patients.

Abstract

Decompensated liver cirrhosis (LC), a life-threatening complication of chronic liver disease, is one of the major indications for liver transplantation. Recently, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transfusion has been shown to lead to the regression of liver fibrosis in mice and humans. This study examined the safety and efficacy of umbilical cord-derived MSC (UC-MSC) in patients with decompensated LC. A total of 45 chronic hepatitis B patients with decompensated LC, including 30 patients receiving UC-MSC transfusion, and 15 patients receiving saline as the control, were recruited; clinical parameters were detected during a 1-year follow-up period. No significant side-effects and complications were observed in either group. There was a significant reduction in the volume of ascites in patients treated with UC-MSC transfusion compared with controls (P < 0.05). UC-MSC therapy also significantly improved liver function, as indicated by the increase of serum albumin levels, decrease in total serum bilirubin levels, and decrease in the sodium model for end-stage liver disease scores. UC-MSC transfusion is clinically safe and could improve liver function and reduce ascites in patients with decompensated LC. UC-MSC transfusion, therefore, might present a novel therapeutic approach for patients with decompensated LC.

• Authors: Zheng Zhang, Hu Lin, Ming Shi, Ruonan Xu, Junliang Fu, Jiyun Lv, Liming Chen, Sa Lv, Yuanyuan Li, Shuangjie Yu, Hua Geng, Lei Jin, George K K Lau, Fu-Sheng Wang
• Journal: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology (J Gastroenterol Hepatol) Vol. 27 Suppl 2 Pg. 112-20 (Mar 2012) ISSN: 1440-1746 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 22320928 (Publication Type: Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2012 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Serum Albumin
• Bilirubin

Topics

• Adult
• Ascites (metabolism, pathology, physiopathology, surgery, virology)
• Bilirubin (blood)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Case-Control Studies
• Cells, Cultured
• China
• Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation (adverse effects)
• Female
• Hepatitis B, Chronic (complications, diagnosis)
• Humans
• Kaplan-Meier Estimate
• Liver (metabolism, pathology, physiopathology, virology)
• Liver Cirrhosis (metabolism, pathology, physiopathology, surgery, virology)
• Liver Function Tests
• Male
• Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation (adverse effects)
• Middle Aged
• Recovery of Function
• Serum Albumin (metabolism)
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome
• Viral Load