Mesenchymal stem cells therapy for acute liver failure: Recent advances and future perspectives

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a life-threatening disease characterized by the rapid development of hepatocyte death and a systemic inflammatory response, which leads to high mortality. Despite the prevention of ALF complications, therapeutic effectiveness remains limited because of the rapid disease progression. Thus, there is a need to explore various therapeutic approaches. Currently, the only effective treatment is liver transplantation; However, the lack of donors, surgical complications, immunosuppression, and high medical costs limit its clinical application. Recently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been found to exert hepatoprotective effects in ALF through suppression of inflammation, immunoregulation, promotion of mitosis, anti-apoptosis effects, and alleviation of the metabolic and oxidative stress imbalance. In this review, we summarize the advantages and disadvantages of MSCs from different sources and their molecular mechanisms in ALF treatment, along with future perspectives that may provide guidance to improve the current status of MSCs therapy for ALF.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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