Evolving Cell-Based and Cell-Free Clinical Strategies for Treating Severe Human Liver Diseases.
Liver diseases represent a major global health issue, and currently, liver transplantation is the only viable alternative to reduce mortality rates in patients with end-stage liver diseases. However, scarcity of donor organs and risk of recidivism requiring a re-transplantation remain major obstacles. Hence, much hope has turned towards cell-based therapy. Hepatocyte-like cells obtained from embryonic stem cells or adult stem cells bearing multipotent or pluripotent characteristics, as well as cell-based systems, such as organoids, bio-artificial liver devices, bioscaffolds and organ printing are indeed promising. New approaches based on extracellular vesicles are also being investigated as cell substitutes. Extracellular vesicles, through the transfer of bioactive molecules, can modulate liver regeneration and restore hepatic function. This review provides an update on the current state-of-art cell-based and cell-free strategies as alternatives to liver transplantation for patients with end-stage liver diseases.
['Cernigliaro|Viviana|V|', 'Peluso|Rossella|R|', 'Zedda|Beatrice|B|', 'Silengo|Lorenzo|L|', 'Tolosano|Emanuela|E|', 'Pellicano|Rinaldo|R|', 'Altruda|Fiorella|F|', 'Fagoonee|Sharmila|S|']
D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy D002474:Cell-Free System D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic D015316:Genetic Therapy D022781:Hepatocytes D006801:Humans D008107:Liver Diseases D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation
liver diseases transplantation organoids organ printing extracellular vesicles cell therapy scaffolds