Experimental Study In The Differentiation Of Human Bone Marrow-derived Stem Cells To Hepatocytes

BackgroundFor the terminal stages of all hepatic diseases, orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) should be the most effective therapy theoretically. However, it has some limits. Compared with OLT, hepatocyte transplantation has many advantages: Non-surgical procedures; Repetitive; A single donor could potentially provide hepatocytes for several patients; Hepatocytes have low immunogenicity and may be cryopreserved for later use; And it has little influence on donors if failed or immunologic rejection. Hepatocytes could also be genetically modified in vitro and used for gene therapy. In recent years, great advances have been achieved in the theories and techniques of hepatocyte transplantation, which has exhibited its potential as the alternative to OLT.Human bone marrow-derived haemopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can differentiate into bone cells, cartilage cells, adipose cells, muscle cells and many other cells. Recent studies showed that, under certain...