Hepatocyte transplantation: clinical experience and potential for future use

Hepatocyte transplantation has been proposed as a method to support patients with liver insufficiency. There are three main areas where the transplantation of isolated hepatocytes has been proposed and used for clinical therapy. Cell transplantation has been used: 1) for temporary metabolic support of patients in end-stage liver failure awaiting whole organ transplantation, 2) as a method to support liver function and facilitate regeneration of the native liver in cases of fulminant hepatic failure, and 3) in a manner similar to gene therapy, as a "cellular therapy" for patients with genetic defects in vital liver functions. We will briefly review the basic research that leads to clinical hepatocyte transplantation, the published clinical experience with this experimental technique, and some possible future uses of hepatocyte transplantation.