Umbilical cord stem cells may offer treatment for hepatic diseases

Washington, July 4 : A new study has revealed that stem cells derived from human umbilical cord may offer a treatment option for hepatic diseases.

Researchers from Universities of Granada and Leon have found that human umbilical cord blood cells (HUCBCs) can effectively treat hepatic diseases, such as hepatitis and are therefore an effective alternative to bone marrow.

The researchers examined the regenerative potential of HUCBCs cells with the help of xenotransplant model from human to rat in which HUCBCs were injected through the hepatic portal vein of rats with hepatitis caused by D-galactosamine.

They found that cell transplant in rats caused an improvement both in the histological damage and in the hepatic function.

The present treatment for terminal hepatic failure consists of a liver transplant. This method is, however, limited due to the lack of donor organs.

In addition, there is not at present a specific treatment for the fibrosis caused by many hepatic diseases, so that receive a treatment for the complications of the disease.

The development of such alternatives is therefore an essential objective for present research to improve suffering in many patients.

The study is published in the journal Cell Transplantation.

ANI