Recent Advances in Liver Tissue Engineering as an Alternative and Complementary Approach for Liver Transplantation

Abstract

Acute and chronic liver diseases cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, affecting millions of people. Liver transplantation is the primary intervention method, replacing a non-functional liver with a functional one. However, the field of liver transplantation faces challenges such as donor shortage, postoperative complications, immune rejection, and ethical problems. Consequently, there is an urgent need for alternative therapies that can complement traditional transplantation or serve as an alternative method. In this review, we explore the potential of liver tissue engineering as a supplementary approach to liver transplantation, offering benefits to patients with severe liver dysfunctions.

Keywords

• liver tissue engineering
• tumor necrosis factor-α
• interleukin-6
• hepatocyte growth factor
• insulin-like growth factor
• platelet-derived growth factor