Stem Cells and Liver Disease

Received: January 01, 2010
Accepted: June 05, 2010
Ref: Akhter J, Aziz AA, Ajlan AA. Stem cells and liver disease. Internet J Med Update. 2011 Jul;6(2):69-75.

STEM CELLS AND LIVER DISEASE

Javed Akhter PhD, Ashraf Ali Aziz MD and Abdulaziz Al Ajlan MD

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

(Corresponding Author: Dr. Javed Akhter, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, PO Box 22490, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia; Email:Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, PO Box 22490, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia; Email: AkhterJ@NGHA.MED.SA)

ABSTRACT

Liver transplantation is the primary treatment for various end-stage hepatic diseases but is hindered by the lack of donor organs, complications associated with rejection and immunosuppression. An increasingly unbridgeable gap exists between the supply and demand of transplantable organs. Hence stem cell research and regenerative medicine have the potential to revolutionize the future of medicine with the ability to regenerate damaged and diseased organs. Stem cells serving as a repair system for the body, can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells. These cells could relieve the symptoms of liver disease or the genetic error could potentially be corrected by gene therapy. In cases of acute liver failure in adults, stem cell therapies might be used to support the liver, allowing it time to recover.

KEY WORDS: Stem cells; Liver disease; Therapies

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