Review
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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 28, 2013; 19(40): 6757-6773
Published online Oct 28, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i40.6757
Role of stem cells in repair of liver injury: Experimental and clinical benefit of transferred stem cells on liver failure
Mukaddes Esrefoglu
Mukaddes Esrefoglu, Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey
Author contributions: Esrefoglu M solely contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Mukaddes Esrefoglu, Professor, Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Adnan Menderes Bulvari, Vatan Cad, Istanbul 34093, Turkey. drmukaddes@hotmail.com
Telephone: +90-532-3465239 Fax: +90-212-6217580
Received: May 10, 2013
Revised: July 23, 2013
Accepted: August 17, 2013
Published online: October 28, 2013
Core Tip

Core tip: Although the liver has a high regenerative capacity, as a result of massive hepatocyte death, liver failure occurs. In recent years, there has been extensive experimental and clinical research in the field of cellular transplantation. Transplantation of cell lineages involved in liver regeneration, including mature and fetal hepatocytes, fetal liver progenitor and stem cells, hepatic progenitor and stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, and peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood stem cells, have been found to be beneficial for treating of liver failure. Herein, I review the results of experimental and clinical cell transplantation trials for liver failure.