PURPOSE:
The purpose of the study was to assess the feasibility, safety and tolerance of a single infusion of mesenchymal stem cells after liver transplantation in humans.

Liver transplantation has been the main standard treatment for many liver diseases in the final stages. Lately, long-term graft and patient survival are common after transplantation, however, the recipient must be subjected to immunosuppression, which prevents a good quality of life and can reduce survival by promoting the development of cancer or increasing the risk of infection, cardiovascular diseases and kidney failure. Therefore, there is a need to promote protocols after transplantation.

It has been shown that mesenchymal stem cells have an anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory potential, which suggests that these cells could be of interest in the transplantation of solid organs.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:
No patient treated with the cells had allergic reactions or any impairment of vital function (including the function of the transplanted liver).
No patient developed infections or relapse in cancer but developed cold sores, which was treated successfully.
In this study, they report the first prospective phase I clinical trial to evaluate the toxicity of mesenchymal stem cells, based on their immunoregulatory potential. No adverse effects were found after the administration of the cells.

Detry O, Vandermeulen M, Delbouille MH, Somja J, Bletard N, Briquet A, Lechanteur C, Giet O, Baudoux E, Hannon M, Baron F, Beguin Y., Infusion of mesenchymal cells after liver transplantation: an open clinical study of phase I-II, Journal of Hepatology, 2016-2017.