Mesenchymal stromal cells for immunoregulation after liver transplantation: the scene in 2016.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The current review presents an update on the existing preclinical and human experience of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapies for post-transplant immunomodulation.

RECENT FINDINGS: Although results from early clinical studies have demonstrated that the application of autologous and allogeneic MSC to be both safe and feasible in a solid organ transplantation setting, for example in liver, the efficacy of MSC immunotherapy demonstrated in preclinical models has yet to be replicated in human clinical trials.

SUMMARY: Eagerly awaited results from the second generation of solid organ transplantation clinical trials, many of which are nearing completion, will perhaps establish the effectiveness of combining MSCs and low-dose pharmacological immunosuppression in promoting graft acceptance. At present, the question of whether infusional cell products based on MSCs will have a significant clinical impact in the field of liver transplantation remains open.