Stem Cell-Based Strategies: The Future Direction of Bioartificial Liver Development

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Hepatology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Acute liver failure (ALF) is a critical condition with high mortality, necessitating effective treatments beyond liver transplantation.
• Liver transplantation (LT) is the sole definitive therapy for ALF but is constrained by limited donor organ availability.
• Bioartificial liver (BAL) devices present a potential therapeutic strategy for ALF, requiring a suitable cell source.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current status and future prospects of stem cell-based strategies for bioartificial liver (BAL) applications in acute liver failure (ALF).
• To explore the potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their secretomes as alternative cell sources for BALs.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent scientific literature on stem cell applications in BAL for ALF.
• Analysis of the properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their secretomes, including anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and regenerative attributes.

Main Results:

• Human primary hepatocytes, while ideal, are limited by availability and viability issues for widespread BAL use.
• Stem cells, particularly MSCs and their secretomes, exhibit multifaceted therapeutic properties beneficial for ALF treatment.
• These properties include anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-ROS, anti-apoptotic, pro-metabolomic, anti-fibrogenesis, and pro-regenerative effects.

Conclusions:

• Stem cell-based strategies, especially using MSCs and their secretomes, show significant promise for advancing BAL technology in ALF treatment.
• Addressing the challenges and capitalizing on opportunities is crucial for the clinical translation of these stem cell-based BAL strategies.