Histological improvement following administration of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells for alcoholic cirrhosis: a pilot study

• Published in: Liver international 2014-01, Vol.34 (1), p.33-41
• Main 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
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actin; Actins - genetics; Actins - metabolism; Adult; Biopsy; bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell; Cells, Cultured; cirrhosis; Collagen Type I - genetics; Collagen Type I - metabolism; Female; hepatic fibrosis; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Injections, Intra-Arterial; Liver - metabolism; Liver - pathology; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic - metabolism; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic - pathology; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic - surgery; liver function; Male; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation - adverse effects; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; portal hypertension; Prospective Studies; Republic of Korea; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Time Factors; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - genetics; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - metabolism; Transplantation, Autologous; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1478-3223; 1478-3231
• DOI: 10.1111/liv.12218

Background 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. Aim 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. Methods 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 × 107 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 One patient was withdrawn because of ingestion of alcohol.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. Results 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 (P