Cell-based liver therapies: past, present and future

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Hepatology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Liver transplantation is the standard for end-stage liver disease but faces donor organ shortages.
• Whole liver replacement prevents future gene therapy for metabolic liver defects.
• Cell therapy presents an alternative to restore hepatic functions and engraft in the liver.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current cell therapies for liver diseases and metabolic disorders.
• To highlight preclinical and clinical achievements in cell-based liver therapies.
• To identify limitations hindering the clinical application of cell therapies.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on cell therapy for liver conditions.
• Analysis of various cell sources: hepatocytes, stem cell-derived hepatocytes, and others.
• Evaluation of combination therapies, organoids, and cell-biomaterial constructs.

Main Results:

• Exploration of diverse cell therapy options, including hepatocytes and stem cell-derived cells.
• Discussion of advanced strategies like combination therapies and organoids.
• Identification of challenges in cell engraftment, function, and safety.

Conclusions:

• Cell therapy shows potential as an alternative to liver transplantation.
• Further research is needed to overcome safety and efficacy hurdles for clinical use.
• Cell-based approaches offer hope for treating liver diseases and metabolic disorders.