Research Article

Exploring the Most Promising Stem Cell Therapy in Liver Failure: A Systematic Review

Table 1

Case studies on stem cells for liver failure [512].

Ref noStem cell type passage doseRouteSeverity/other concomitant therapyStudy, P-noMonitoring-outcome measuresOutcome

5T1: auto BM-MSCs–P0-–in 5 mL saline
T2: auto BM-MSCs–P0-–in 5 mL saline
T1: splenic vein-CT guidance
T2: IV
Chronic hepatic failure, liver cirrhosis-CTP grade C, /(-)Phase I trial,

(4 M)

(5 M)
BL, mo-1-2-3-4-5-6: encephalopathy, jaundice, hematemesis/melena, LL edema, ascites, ALB, TBil, DBil, SGOT, SGPT, GGT, PC, Cr, MELD scoreMo-ND: no-encephalopathy ↓T1 (2/3), T2 (1/2), jaundice↓ T1 (2/5), T2 (1/4), LL edema↓ T1 (3/5) T2 (2/4), ascites↓T1 (2/3), T2 (2/3)
T1 and T2: TBil↓, dBil↓, Cr↓, MELD score↓
T2: SGOT↓

6T = vancomycin IV, h-1-auto BM-MSC P2-P4, mean: , viability 95%, diluted in 20 mL normal salineIV–heparinized syringe–30 minutesChronic liver failure, /diuretic (4/4), AIH medication (1/4) (1 M)BL, d-1-4-7, wk-2-3-4, mo-2-3-6-9-12: AE, physical exam, CBC, PT, INR, s-urea, Cr, ALB, ALT, AST, ALP, TBil, dBil, AFP
BL, mo-6: CT scan-liver vol, QoL, MELD score
AE (-)
mo-6-12: edema↓ (4/4), diuretic dose↓ (1/4),
mo-6: ALB↑ (3/4)
mo12: ALB↑ (2/4)
mo-6: liver vol↑ (3/4)
QoL↑(4/4)
mo-6-12: MELD score↓ (2/4)

7T =auto BM-MSCs, P4, 2x106/kgBW, in saline, Vvol: ND, 2x, interval 40 daysHepatic ADecompensated alcoholic liver cirrhosis, CTP grade C (M)BL, wk-6, wk 8, wk 26, wk 52: TBil, s-Alb, Cr, INR, CTP grade, diuretic use, ascitesWk 8: TBil↓, s-Alb↓, Cr↑, INR ↓, CTP score↓, diuretic use↓, ascites↓
Wk 26: TBil↑↓, s-Alb↓, Cr↓, INR ↑, CTP score↑, died 12 mo after transplant

8Cryopreserved– thawed (at least 4 wk) auto PB CD 133 (at least 4wk after leucapheresis)
,
,
,
T4 = 106/kgBW
In 30 ml saline-10% human albumin-10% acid citrate dextrose (anticoagulant)
Via hepatic artery–in 3 minutesEnd-stage liver disease--25, CTP B or C/
Rec hu G-CSF (Lenograstim Italfarmaco)-7.5 μg/kgBW-bid-SC-5-7 days–leucapheresis from d-4 if auto PB CD /μl
After auto PB CD133: GCSF 5 μg/kg BW–3 days
Phase-1 trial,

(P1-2-3)
(P6-7-9)
(P10-11-12)
(P13-15-17)
During GCSF treatment: BL-d-3-4-5-6-7: PB CD 133 monitoring–no of CD 133 collected, MELD score, AE, Tbil, Cr, INR
ReI, d-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-wk-2-3-4, mo2-3-6-9-12 mo: physical examination, Tbil, Cr, INR, ALB, MELD score
Withdraw: P-16
Not enough CD (P4-14), after GCSF- MELD score↑ (12/12), sig↑ = 2 (CTP-grade C), TBil↑, INR↑, Cr↑ (12/12),hepatorenalsyndr =2 (P-5: died, P8: OLT) ➔enrolled =12
AE: hematoma=2, worsening condition = 3 (i.e., encephalopathy = 2 (d-3-PR-P-10, d-30-DP-P17), HCC nodule = 1-P-15), OLT = 5 (within 12 mo, P-1-6-12-13-17), LTF➔ died = 2 (P-7-10)- (mo 5, mo 6), d-1-3: med WBC↑, wk-1-mo-1-2-3-6: med MELD score↓, med TBil↓, mo-1-2-3-6: med INR↓, mo-1-2-6: med Cr↑, mo-3: med Alb ↑(10/12)

9T (after leucapheresis) = auto PB CD34+ 106 (P1-P3-P5), (P2-P4)–in 20 mL normal salineTo portal vein (P1-P2-P3) or hepatic artery (P4-P5)Chronic liver failure, WHO performance /
G-CSF (G-CSF, Chugai Pharmaceutical)-526 μg SC-daily–5 days, leucapheresis
T = 5 (4 M)d-1: AE
BL-d-7-15-45-60, every 2 mo until 6 mo (P3), 12mo (P1-P2-P4), 18 mo (P5): AE, physical exam, CBC, liver function (ALB, Bil), urea, coagulation profile
d-60: AFP, abdomen CT scan
d-1: PC↓ (all), but returned to baseline on d-7, nausea (5/5), pain at site (4/5), fever (1/5), vomiting (1/5), rash (1/5).
P-1: mo-1-2 s-Bil↓ = N, mo-6-to 12↑but < BL
P-2: mo-1 to12 - Bil↓ = N
P-3: Bil↑, ALB↓
P-4:-mo-6-AE: severe UTI- AB, s-Bil↓ (50% BL) mo12 –s-Bil = BL)
P5: mo-1 to 12 s-Bil↓, mo 18 ↑ = 50% BL
ALB↑(slightly)–through FUP–all except P-3

10T = auto BM CD34+ 10x106, purity = 95%, viability = 92.5% in 10 mL normal salineTo the hepatic arter–1 mL/minutesChronic liver failure/G-CSF (ND) 300 μg/mL SC daily–5 daysd 1-2-3-4-5: AE (fever, chills, hives, angina pectoris)
BL-d7-15, mo-1-2-3-4-5-6: ALB, ALT, AST, Bil, s-HA, Cr, CTP, MELD score
AE (-)
mo 2-3-4-5-6:
P1-2: ALB↑, ALT↓, AST↓
mo 1-2-3-4-5-6:
P3-4: Bil↓
mo-6–P1-2-3-4: HA↓, CTP score↓mo 6 – P1-2-3: MELD score↓

11T = auto CD34 depleted BM-MNC by CliniMACS-plus-fresh–cell number: ND, vehicle: ND, V vol: 310-410 () mLVia hepatic artery–1200 mL/hourLiver failure waiting for OLT/standard therapy (2 M)BL -d-0-7-14, mo-1-2-3-4-12: AE, s-ALB, TBil, DBil, PT, AST, ALT, s-AlP, s-HA, CTP score, LE, subj H, QoL
Mo-2-4-6-8-10-12: CT scan (ascites, liver volume, HCC)
Serious AE (-), P-1–OLT at mo-4, P-3–OLT at wk-3
d-7-14: s-ALB> BL (5/5), INR↓: d-14 (3/5), mo-1-2 (2/4), mo-3-4 (1/4), EL↓: wk-4 (3/4), wk-8 (4/4), wk-16 (1/2),
mo-1-2-3-4-5-6: ascites ↓ (2/4)
mo-12: CTP score ↓ (1/3), QoL↑ (2/3), ↓(1/3), liver vol↓(3/4), ↑(1/4)
subj H: D1-Mo1-↑ (4/4), mo-2 ↑ (3/4), mo-3↑(2/4), mo-4↑(1/4)

12T = UC-MSCs-P4, /kgBW in saline–Vvol: NDIV–3x interval 4 wkPrimary biliary cirrhosis–incomplete response to UDCA/standard medication (UDCA) (1 M)AE: short term, long term.
BL, wk-24-48:
Symptoms (pruritus, fatigue, fever, peripheral edema, rash, nausea, vomiting), physical exam, liver function (ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, ALB, TBil, PTA), INR, QoL, USG-hypogastric ascites, Mayo RS, MELD score
AE short term: self-limiting fever (1/7)
Wk 48: pruritus↓(5/5), fatigue↓(7/7),
ALP↓(7/7), GGT↓(7/7),
BL vs wk 48: ALP↓ ( vs  IU/L, ), GGT↓ ( vs  IU/L, )
wk-24-wk 48: hypogastric ascites↓ (4/4)
wk 48: Mayo RS↑ (4/7), MELD score ↑(2/7), ↓(1/7)

Auto = autologous, BM = bone marrow, MSCs = mesenchymal stem cells, P0 = passage-0. CT=, IV = intranevous. Rec = recombinant, hu = human, GCSF = granulocyte colony stimulating factor, BW = body weight, bid = twice per day, SC = subcutaneous, d- = day-, PB = peripheral blood, wk = week, MNC = mononuclear cells, V vol = vehicle volume, med = median, h- = hour-, P2 = passage 2, P4 = passage 4. CTP = Child Turcotte Pugh, MELD = model of end-stage liver disease, OLT = orthotopic liver transplantation, AIH = auto immune hepatitis, UDCA = ursodeoxycholic acid. M = male, BL = base line, mo = months, LL = lower limb, ALB = albumin, Tbil = total bilirubin, Dbil = direct bilirubin, SGOT = serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase = AST, SGPT = serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase = ALT, GGT = gamma glutamyl transferase, PC = prothrombin concentration, AE = adverse reaction, Cr = creatinin, INR = international normalized ratio, ReI = reinfusion, QoL = quality of life, subj H = subjective healthiness, ALT = alanine aminotransferase, AST = aspartate aminotransferase, s- = serum, AlP = alkaline phosphatase, HA = hyaluronic acid, LE = liver elastography (measuring liver stiffness), CBC = complete blood count, AFP = alpha fetoprotein, PTA = prothrombin time activity, RS = risk score, USG = ultrasonography. ND = no data, no- = number of cases with – (remaining cases/base line number), Sig = significant, PR = promptly resolved, DP = disease progression, LTF = lost to follow up, P- = patient-, N = normal, FUP = follow up period, vol = volume, med = median, WBC = white blood count, HCC = hepatocellular carcinoma.