Cultured mesenchymal stromal cells are among the most used cells in clinical trials. Currently, their potential benefits include provision of mature cell types through differentiation, and secretion of various types of paracrine signaling molecules. Even though research on these cells has spanned some decades now, surprisingly, their therapeutic potential has not been fully translated into clinical practice yet, which calls for further understanding of their intrinsic nature and modes of action.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCirrhosis, a late form of liver disease, is characterized by extensive scarring due to exacerbated secretion of extracellular matrix proteins by myofibroblasts that develop during this process. These myofibroblasts arise mainly from hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), liver-specific pericytes that become activated at the onset of liver injury. Consequently, HSCs tend to be viewed mainly as myofibroblast precursors in a fibrotic process driven by inflammation.
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