Effect of immunosuppressive therapy using mscs on kidney function in patients after liver transplantation

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) application in liver transplantation and their impact on renal function recovery. An interventional randomized prospective study (n = 60) was performed: the main group (n = 30) received MSC therapy, while the control group (n = 30) received standard immunosuppressive therapy. Method included combined application of MSCs: intraportal intraoperatively (20×10⁶ cells) and twice intravenously (on the day of surgery and on the 4th postoperative day at dose of 2×10⁶ MSCs/kg of recipient body weight).

Patients in the main group received delayed reduced doses of tacrolimus. The results showed that the use of MSCs allows achieving adequate immunosuppression with reduced tacrolimus concentration (4.4 ng/ml in the MSC group compared to 5.5 ng/ml in the control group on day 10, p = 0.029) and later initiation of its administration (from day 3 compared to day 2, p = 0.03). MSCs application contributed to faster recovery of kidney function: creatinine level on day 14 was 92 μmol/L in the MSC group compared to 115 μmol/L in the control group, GFR on day 7 was 38 ml/min compared to 27 ml/min (p < 0.05). The duration of hospitalization in the MSC group was 17 (15; 23) days, in the control group 20 (16; 26).

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