Histological improvement following administration of autologous bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells for alcoholic cirrhosis: a pilot study. Issue 1 (19th June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jang, Yoon Ok; Kim, Young Ju; Baik, Soon Koo; Kim, Moon Young; Eom, Young Woo; Cho, Mee Yon; Park, Hong Jun; Park, So Yeon; Kim, Bo Ra; Kim, Jae Woo; Soo Kim, Hyun; Kwon, Sang Ok; Choi, Eun Hee; Kim, Yong Man
• Is Part Of: Liver international. Volume 34:Issue 1(2014)
• Page Start: 33
• Page End: 41
• Publication Date: 2013-06-19
• Subjects: Liver -- Periodicals; Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.362
• DOI: 10.1111/liv.12218
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1478-3223

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="liv12218-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="liv12218-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>In experimental models, bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM‐MSCs) have the capacity to differentiate into hepatocytes and exhibit antifibrotic effects. However, there have been no studies in humans with alcoholic cirrhosis.</p> </sec> <sec id="liv12218-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>The aim of this study was to elucidate the antifibrotic effect of BM‐MSCs in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, as a phase II clinical trial.</p> </sec> <sec id="liv12218-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Twelve patients (11 males, 1 female) with baseline biopsy‐proven alcoholic cirrhosis who had been alcohol free for at least 6 months were enrolled. BM‐MSCs were isolated from each patient's BM and amplified for 1 month, and 5 × 10<sup>7</sup> cells were then injected twice, at weeks 4 and 8, through the hepatic artery. One patient was withdrawn because of ingestion of alcohol. Finally, 11 patients completed the follow‐up biopsy and laboratory tests at 12 weeks after the second injection. The primary outcome was improvement in the patients' histological features.</p> </sec> <sec id="liv12218-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>According to the Laennec fibrosis system, histological improvement was observed in 6 of 11 patients (54.5%). The Child‐Pugh score improved in ten patients (90.9%) and the levels of transforming growth factor‐β1, type 1 collagen and α‐smooth muscle actin significantly decreased (as assessed by real‐time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) after BM‐MSCs therapy (<italic>P</italic> < 0.05). No significant complications or side effects were observed during this study.</p> </sec> <sec id="liv12218-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells therapy in alcoholic cirrhosis induces a histological and quantitative improvement of hepatic fibrosis.</p> </sec> </abstract>