肝干细胞的研究进展

Progress in research of hepatic stem cells

肝脏疾病相关的死亡率及发病率仍在逐渐上升,目前,肝移植仍是终末期肝病的唯一有效的治疗方法,但供肝短缺、手术风险、长期并发症等问题严重限制其临床发展.目前迫切需要新的治疗方法,而肝干细胞(hepatic stem cell,HSC)是一种具有自我更新能力及分化为肝细胞潜能的细胞,因此成为细胞治疗的新选择.虽然HSC临床前研究获得较好的结果,但用于人类的证据仍然缺乏,目前需要更多关于HSC的研究为人类带来福音.

Liver disease is a rising cause of mortality and morbidity, and treatment options remain limited. Liver transplantation is curative but limited by donor organ availability, operative risk and long-term complications. There is currently a clear need for new therapies for liver disease, and it is possible that hepatic stem cell （HSC） therapy represents an exciting new therapeutic option. HSCs are undifferentiated cells with the unique ability to self-renew and potentially provide a source of human hepatocytes for regeneration of the injured liver. Evidence from pre-clinical studies is encouraging, but conclusive evidence that this translates into humans remains lacking. Further studies of the mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of HSC therapy are needed.