Liver disease poses a global health threat, claiming the lives of approximately 2 million people each year. Regrettably, current treatment options for damaged or diseased livers carry substantial challenges. Patients facing severe liver disease often require complete organ transplants, but the scarcity of suitable organs and the high cost of the procedure present formidable barriers. Furthermore, the immunosuppressive drugs required post-transplantation can significantly impact a patient's quality of life.

Cirrhosis of the liver is late stage liver disease, in which healthy liver tissue has been gradually replaced with scar tissue. This is a result of long-term, chronic hepatitis. Hepatitis is inflammation in your liver, which has many causes. When inflammation is ongoing, your liver attempts to repair itself by scarring. But too much scar tissue prevents your liver from working properly. The end stage is chronic liver failure.

Stages of cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a progressive condition that worsens as more and more scar tissue develops. In the beginning, your body adjusts to compensate for your reduced liver function, and you might not notice it too much. This is known as compensated cirrhosis. Eventually, though, as your liver function declines further, you will begin to experience noticeable symptoms. This is known as decompensated cirrhosis. 

Scarring in your liver blocks the flow of blood and oxygen through your liver tissues. This slows your liver's ability to process your blood, metabolize nutrients and filter out toxins. Cirrhosis reduces your liver's ability to produce bile and essential blood proteins. Scar tissue can also compress blood vessels running through your liver, including the important portal vein system, leading to a condition called portal hypertension. 

Signs of cirrhosis of the liver

Early signs and symptoms of cirrhosis may include:

• Nausea or loss of appetite.
• Feeling weak or tired (fatigue).
• Feeling generally ill (malaise).
• Upper abdominal pain (especially on the right).
• Visible blood vessels that look like spiders (spider angiomas).
• Redness on the palms of your hands (palmar erythema).

Potential of Stem Cells in Liver Disease

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy is emerging as a promising and innovative treatment for individuals with liver disease. 

While the liver possesses some regenerative capacity, it can still suffer damage beyond its inherent ability to self-repair. Prolonged alcohol use and continuous injury can trigger the formation of scar tissue as the liver attempts to heal itself. As this scar tissue spreads, the liver's regenerative capacity becomes severely restricted. This widespread scarring, known as cirrhosis, is typically irreversible, ultimately necessitating a liver transplant.

Mesenchymal stem cells possess a remarkable ability to naturally "home" in on areas of the body in need of repair. In patients grappling with liver disease, these cells can mitigate tissue damage and promote healing and regeneration. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of stem cell transplantation for various liver conditions, including liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver tumors.