Advanced therapies using autologous bone marrow cells for chronic liver disease

The radical treatment currently for decompensated liver cirrhosis is still liver transplantation. However, liver transplants are not widely performed worldwide and development of genuine regeneration therapy for liver cirrhosis is an urgent task. We have developed a novel murine model [the green fluorescent protein (GFP)/carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) model], and reported that infused GFP-positive bone marrow cells repopulated cirrhotic liver. Moreover, repopulated bone marrow cells ameliorated liver fibrosis through higher expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9, consistent with improved liver functions and better survival rate. Based on these findings, we started a clinical trial of autologous bone marrow cell infusion (ABMi) therapy for decompensated liver cirrhotic patients, and reported the efficacy and the safety of this approach. On the other hand, various other clinical studies for liver disease have been also reported, including hepatic administration of autologous CD34-positive cells induced by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), portal vein administration of CD133-positive mononuclear cells, and administration of autologous bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Effectiveness of these approaches has been shown in some patients. We provided here an overview of the current status of liver regeneration therapies including our results of the murine GFP/CCl4 model and ABMi therapy for liver cirrhosis and future prospects.