Can bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells change liver volume?: A case report

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Hepatology
• Stem Cell Therapy

Background:

• Liver cirrhosis (LC) management often relies on clinical and biochemical markers.
• Radiologic assessments for treatment efficacy in LC are less frequently utilized.
• Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is being explored as a therapeutic option for LC.

Observation:

• A 57-year-old male with hepatitis B virus-induced LC received two hepatic intra-arterial infusions of bone marrow-derived MSCs.
• The patient was on tenofovir and diuretics prior to MSC administration.
• Computed tomography (CT) scans were used to evaluate treatment response.

Findings:

• The patient exhibited improved clinical symptoms and normalized biochemical markers including liver enzymes, albumin, bilirubin, INR, creatinine, and alpha-fetoprotein.
• Radiologic evaluation via CT demonstrated a reduction in ascites and liver nodularity.
• Notably, a significant increase in liver volume was observed post-MSC transplantation.

Implications:

• MSC transplantation may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for liver cirrhosis.
• Radiologic imaging, particularly CT, can provide valuable insights into MSC therapy outcomes, including changes in liver volume.
• Further research is warranted to validate these findings in larger cohorts and explore the mechanisms behind MSC-induced liver regeneration.