Significant serum proteinic and metabolic alterations in hepatitis B cirrhosis patients treated with umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract Stem cells based-treatment is considered as an effective regenerative therapy for liver cirrhosis patients. Data about impact of stem cell transplantation on circulating metabolites in liver cirrhosis patients remains limited. In this study, eligible participants with hepatitis B cirrhosis were injected with 10E7 umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (uc-MSCs) through ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver puncture and portal vein catheterization. Changes of serum samples after treatment were measured by performing proteomics and metabolomics. As illustrated, proteins enriched in ECM remodeling were significantly altered, such as 20S proteasome subunits and laminin. Types of circulating phosphatidylcholine were augmented in patients after uc-MSCs treatment compared to original levels (14:0, 16:1, 18:1, 18:2, 20:1, 20:4), whereas phosphatidylethanolamine was diminished (20:4). Changes of serum profiles demonstrated that uc-MSC treatment is efficient in repairing tissue damage and metabolic disorders, revealing early biomarkers in clinical evaluation of uc-MSC treatment in liver cirrhosis patients.