Perspectives of liver cell transplantation: a review

Liver-directed somatic gene therapy may be performed using the techniques of in vivo gene therapy, liver cell transplantation (HcTx) including ex vivo gene therapy, and liver transplantation, respectively (1). Liver transplantation has become a routine surgical technique in correcting liver disease. The usage of HcTx and in vivo gene therapy has increased and may replace liver transplantation, at least to some extent, in the future. HcTx involves the transplantation of healthy, intact hepatocytes with metabolic properties which are deficient in the recipient. Among its different applications, this concept may be used for the correction of inborn errors of liver disease and acute liver failure. The advantage of HcTx is that for successful gene therapy, the underlying primary defect does not require detailed characterization. In addition, HcTx is currently being-tested for ex vivo gene therapy. In this form of therapy, hepatocytes are isolated after surgical liver resection. The hepatocytes are ex vivo genetically modified, e.g. using retroviral vectors, and the selected modified cells are subsequently re-injected. Herein, we report the historical development, current status and perspectives of the concept of HcTx.