AUTHOR=Yi Qiuyun , Yang Jinxian , Wu Ying , Wang Ying , Cao Qiqi , Wen Wen 

TITLE=Immune microenvironment changes of liver cirrhosis: emerging role of mesenchymal stromal cells

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1204524

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2023.1204524

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=Cirrhosis is a progressive and diffuse liver disease characterized by liver tissue fibrosis and impaired liver function, resulting from chronic hepatitis, alcohol abuse, hepatic steatosis, and other immunological injury factors. The development of liver cirrhosis is a complicated process with various immune cells and cytokines involved, which interact to form the immune microenvironment in liver cirrhosis. In addition, Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) with strong proliferative capacity and multi-directional differentiation potential perform immune reconstitution function by interactions between cell-cell and production of exosomes in the microenvironment. Recent evidence suggests that changes in the immune microenvironment of liver cirrhosis are closely associated with the development and prognosis of the disease. Therefore, understanding the changes in the immune microenvironment and the role of immunotherapy is crucial for the prevention and treatment of liver cirrhosis. This systematic review summarizes the recent progress on immune microenvironment, and discusses the prognostic implications of immune biomarkers, and the potential appliance of immunotherapy and emerging mesenchymal stromal cell as therapeutic approaches.