• Determining the role of induced mesenchymal and pluripotent stem cells in the treatment of liver cancer
  • Mahsan Azimi Dizaj,1 Ali Ahmadi,2,* Dariush D. Farhud,3
    1. MSc. Student, Department of Genetics, Islamic Azad University Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, Iran
    2. BSc. Student, Department of Biological Sciences and Technologies, Islamic Azad University Sari Branch, Sari, Iran
    3. School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran


  • Introduction: Primary liver cancer is the seventh most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death in the world. Cirrhosis and liver failure are common clinical signs of liver disease. The liver is constantly exposed to harmful damage from external and endogenous toxins, so it needs a way to heal the damage. Globally, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the leading histological type of liver cancer, accounting for more than 75% of all liver cancers. Liver transplantation is known as the best and most effective treatment for the final stage of liver disease. But it was limited due to lack of organs and high costs. Today, stem cell therapy has received increasing attention due to its attractive effectiveness in the treatment of liver disease, especially cirrhosis, during clinical trials. In recent years, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used as an alternative approach to the treatment of liver disease has been suggested. This study aimed to determine the role of mesenchymal stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells in the treatment of liver cancer. Mesenchymal stem cells can be defined as pluripotent cells with self-renewal capacity that can create many distinct and unique types of mesenchymal cells. At present, the mesenchymal stem cells used in clinical therapy and basic experimental research are mainly derived from bone marrow, umbilical cord, adipose tissue, amniotic fluid, menstrual blood, and so on.
  • Methods: This study is an initial observational study of the analytical study with a group approach that in 2022 by searching for keywords such as Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Bone Marrow, Pluripotent Stem Cells, Liver Neoplasm in the MeSH database and reputable databases such as Science Direct, Pub Med and Web of Science were performed and 15 articles were extracted and 10 of them were reviewed and included in the study.
  • Results: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be differentiated into hepatocytes, promote liver regeneration, inhibit liver fibrosis, and induce liver apoptosis, particularly through paracrine mechanisms. Studies have shown that liver regeneration after hepatectomy is characterized by specialized phenotypic examination, meaning that each cell is responsible for replicating its cell type. Normal liver regeneration occurs primarily through the proliferation of mature hepatocytes and bile epithelial cells (BECs). Liver cancer stem cells (LCCs), which are identified by specific surface markers, are responsible for tumorigenesis, recurrence, metastasis, resistance to chemotherapy, and poor prognosis of HCC. That is, hepatocytes make other liver cells, and this is true of most other types of hepatocytes, including BECs and hepatocytes (HSCs). Stem cells are not usually associated with physiological proliferation of the liver, except for Kupffer cells and hepatic sinus endothelial cells (LSECs), both of which can be derived from bone marrow stem cells. Remarkably, in the case of impaired hepatocyte proliferation or BECs, the inactive cell type can become a damaged cell type and effectively act as an optional stem cell. A chemotactic protein from the family of CXC proteins produced by bone marrow stromal cells SDF-1a and its chemokine receptor CXC receptor 4 (CXCR4) in a variety of cells and tissues including immune cells, brain, heart, liver, kidney, lung, and spleen are expressed. SDF-1a promotes stem cell migration to damaged tissue by binding to CXCR4 on the stem cell membrane
  • Conclusion: Recently, extensive research has been devoted to examining the relationship between HCCs and MSCs. The function of mesenchymal stem cells in the development, development, and treatment of HCC is highly controversial. An increasing number of studies show that mesenchymal stem cells have dual properties of suppressing and promoting tumors through various molecular signaling mechanisms.
  • Keywords: Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Bone Marrow, Pluripotent Stem Cells, Liver Neoplasm