Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (23): 5002-5012.doi: 10.12307/2025.085

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Different strategies to enhance mesenchymal stem cells in treatment of liver fibrosis: analysis of efficacy and potential risks

Xu Yan1, 2, Wang Xuesong1, 2, Zhou Lin1, 3, 4, 5, Zhou Xiaolei1, 2, Jin Yu2, Ye Junsong1, 3, 4, 5   

  1. 1Subcenter for Stem Cell Clinical Translation, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China; 2School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China; 3Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China; 4Key Laboratory for Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China; 5Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China
  • Received:2023-12-20 Accepted:2024-05-17 Online:2025-08-18 Published:2024-09-30
  • Contact: Ye Junsong, PhD, Associate professor, Subcenter for Stem Cell Clinical Translation, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China; Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China; Key Laboratory for Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China
  • About author:Xu Yan, Master candidate, Subcenter for Stem Cell Clinical Translation, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China; School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 32060232 (to YJS); Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province, No. 20212BAB206057 (to YJS); Science and Technology Project of Jiangxi Provincial Health Commission, No. 20191079 (to YJS)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: At present, a large number of studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells can be combined with different strategies to more effectively improve liver fibrosis and inhibit its progression to end-stage liver disease. 
OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of mesenchymal stem cells combined with different strategies to improve liver fibrosis compared with mesenchymal stem cells alone. 
METHODS: The first author used computers to search CNKI, WanFang, VIP, PubMed, Web of Science, and Nature databases involving mesenchymal stem cells combined with different strategies to improve liver fibrosis. The search terms were “mesenchymal stem cells, liver fibrosis, combination therapy, liver stellate cells” in Chinese, and “mesenchymal stem/stromal cells, liver/hepatic fibrosis/cirrhosis, combination therapy, hepatic stellate cells/HSCs” in English. By quickly browsing the title and abstract of the article, excluding the articles that are not closely related to the topic, 104 articles were finally selected for review analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Mesenchymal stem cells improve liver fibrosis by differentiating into hepato-like cells, inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation, immune regulation, and other mechanisms. However, the low rate of liver colonization, low survival rate, and short action time of mesenchymal stem cells after transplantation limit their clinical application. Mesenchymal stem cells can improve liver fibrosis through a combination of drugs, gene modification, cytokines and other strategies, and the efficacy is better than that of mesenchymal stem cells alone. Moreover, the combination of mesenchymal stem cells and different strategies can effectively improve liver fibrosis by promoting mesenchymal stem cell homing, inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation, regulating the microenvironment, and regulating signaling pathways. Mesenchymal stem cells can also show better liver-derived differentiation, homing and survival functions in reducing liver fibrosis through pretreatment, miRNA regulation and combination with other cells. The combination of mesenchymal stem cells and different strategies cannot avoid the potential risks of mesenchymal stem cells alone in the treatment of liver fibrosis, and the safety of these strategies (drugs, gene modifications, cytokines, etc.) is also worth considering. In addition, the number and route of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation need to be further studied. 

Key words: mesenchymal stem cell, liver fibrosis, hepatic stellate cell, signaling pathway, drug combination, gene modification, homing, miRNA

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