Review: Potential of Stem Cells as Regenerative Medicines against Liver Diseases

Abstract

Liver is a vital gland that performs various essential functions in the human body. Injury due to infection, genetic, chemical and physical defects is the major cause in the deterioration of the functions of liver. Only successful treatment for this problem was the transplantation but transplantation has some limitations including shortage of the donor. Regenerative medicines based on stem cells therapies have proved as a best alternative treatment procedure. Stem cells play a key role in the recovery of the normal function of liver. This is done by repairing or by regenerating the liver cells. Some types of stem cells also play a role to protect the liver cells from rejection in a transplantation process or regenerative process by suppressing the immune response or by anti inflammatory activity such as mesenchymal stem cells. This makes the stem cells based therapies successful. Many types of stem cells have been reported to regenerate or repair the liver. Liver itself also has three types of stem cells that are specific to regenerate the liver cells. Recently, work was performed on human dental pulp stem cells to cure liver diseases. Another use of the stem cells is to develop the bioartificial liver devices as well as they play a significant role in the screening of the effective drugs against liver diseases. They also play a role to understand the pathways of the diseases by developing the disease models in the laboratory. This review summarize that regenerative medicines based on the stem cells are the future to cure any type of liver injury with a high rate of success.

Keywords: Regenerative medicines, Stem Cells. Cell therapies, Liver treatment