CD34(+) cell therapy is safe and effective in slowing the decline of hepatic reserve function in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

Background And Aim: Preclinical studies in rodent models of chronic liver fibrosis have shown that transplantation of peripheral blood (PB) CD34(+) cells leads to hepatic regeneration and a reduction of liver fibrosis by suppressing hepatic stellate cell activity and increasing matrix metalloproteinase activity. The aim of this study was to examine the safety and clinical efficacy of intrahepatic transplantation of autologous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized PB-CD34(+) cells in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

Methods: PB-CD34(+) cells were isolated from G-CSF-mobilized apheresis products.