Liver stem cell therapy for cirrhosis: advances in cell classification and selection

Liver cirrhosis is the final outcome of various chronic liver diseases. In recent years,along with the rapid development of molecular biology and cell biological engineering technology,liver regeneration based on stem cell transplantation technique has become a new research hotspot for treatment of acute and chronic hepatic failure. Here we review basic and clinical studies on different types of stem cells for the treatment of liver cirrhosis and optimal choices of the stem cell type used for transplantation based on specificity of patients' particular status. A large number of experimental studies reveal that the technology of stem cell for the treatment of liver cirrhosis has gradually become mature with a broad prospect of application in the field of liver regeneration. This technology that holds enormous potential for treatment will bring hopes to the patients with end- stage liver cirrhosis.