Peripheral Injection of hUC-MSCs in the Treatment of Acute Liver Failure: A Pre-Clinical Cohort Study in Rhesus Monkeys.

Background: Using a toxin-induced lethal acute liver failure (ALF) monkey model, we have recently shown that early peripheral infusion of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) can alleviate liver damage and improve animal survival by suppressing the activation of circulating monocytes and the subsequent cytokine storm. Here, we explored whether the administration of hUC-MSCs could still improve ALF when the cytokine storm is fully developed.

Method: We treated ALF monkeys with peripheral delivery of hUC-MSCs at 48 hr after toxin challenge. Liver indices, histology, imaging, and animal survival were recorded and analyzed.

Results: In our cohort study, we conducted and demonstrated that the infusion of hUC-MSCs significantly improved liver histology, effectively controlled inflammatory cytokine storms, and increased survival rates. Additionally, the administration of a higher dose of hUC-MSCs (2 × 10⁷/monkey) yielded superior outcomes compared to a lower dose (1 × 10⁷/monkey).

Conclusion: Treatment of hUC-MSCs can significantly improve the pathological and survival outcomes of ALF even when the cytokine storm has been fully developed, indicating a promising clinical solution for ALF.