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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 21, 2014; 20(27): 9098-9105
Published online Jul 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i27.9098
Published online Jul 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i27.9098
Bone marrow derived stem cells for the treatment of end-stage liver disease
Cristina Margini, Ranka Vukotic, Lucia Brodosi, Mauro Bernardi, Pietro Andreone, Dipartimento di Scienze mediche e Chirurgiche, Unità Operativa di Semeiotica Medica, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Author contributions: Margini C conceived of and designed the study, performed the literature search and critical analyses, interpreted and contextualized the available data, drafted the manuscript and revised it for scientific content; Vukotic R contributed to the interpretation of the collected data, drafted the article and revised the manuscript for scientific content; Brodosi L contributed to revising the paper for scientific content; Bernardi M revised the draft for scientific content; Andreone P conceived of and designed the study, contributed to the interpretation of the data and to the revision of the draft for scientific content, and is the guarantor of this review article; all authors approved the final version of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Pietro Andreone, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine, Dipartimento di Scienze mediche e Chirurgiche, Unità Operativa di Semeiotica Medica, University of Bologna, Padiglione 11, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. pietro.andreone@unibo.it
Telephone: +39-51-6364107 Fax: +39-51-345806
Received: October 29, 2013
Revised: February 27, 2014
Accepted: April 15, 2014
Published online: July 21, 2014
Revised: February 27, 2014
Accepted: April 15, 2014
Published online: July 21, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: In recent years, the role of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) in liver regeneration has been explored in various clinical trials. Because these trials were very diverse, we conducted a descriptive overview to understand the effects of BMSC transplantation on liver histology and morphology, on laboratory parameters and prognostic scores, and finally, on clinical manifestations and quality of life. This overview suggests that the efficacy of BMSC therapy might be temporary, and therefore, repeated cycles of BMSCs could be useful to achieve a sustained benefit.