Stem cells are type of cells that have unlimited self-renewal and multi-differentiation potential under specific conditions. Stem cell-based therapeutic techniques can provide new methods for the treatment of perplexing severe liver diseases. Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells are currently considered as ideal stem cells due to their low immunogenicity, convenient materials, abundant sources and advantage of no ethical controversy in the clinical treatment of diseases. Presently, there is a large number of basic and clinical application evidence, which suggests that mesenchymal stem cells can significantly improve the condition and outcome of end-stage liver diseases such as liver cirrhosis and liver failure, and its mechanism of action may include hepatocyte-like cells differentiation, immune function regulation, exosome secretion, etc. This paper briefly summarizes the current theories and clinical research status of mesenchymal stem cells application, as well as the therapeutic clinical trial issues and concerns that needs to be resolved during the perplexing severe liver diseases process.
干细胞是一类在特定条件下具有无限制自我更新与多向分化潜能的细胞，基于干细胞的治疗技术可为疑难重症肝病的治疗提供新的手段。脐带间充质干细胞因具有免疫原性低、取材方便、来源丰富和无伦理学争议等优点，目前被认为是可用于临床治疗疾病的最理想的一类干细胞。目前已有大量的基础与临床应用证据提示间充质干细胞可以显著改善肝硬化和肝衰竭等终末期肝病的病情和临床转归，其作用机制可能包括向肝细胞样细胞的转化、调节免疫功能以及分泌外泌体等。现就目前应用间充质干细胞治疗疑难重症肝病的理论与临床研究开展情况，以及间充质干细胞治疗临床试验申请和实施过程中需要关注的问题等作一简单的归纳和总结。.
Keywords: Difficult and critical liver diseases; Mesenchymal stem cells; Stem cells.