Liver

Abstract

The liver has adapted to the inflow of ingested toxins by the evolutionary development of unique self-regenerative properties and responds to injury or tissue loss by rapid restoration of the original organ mass. This high regenerative capacity is sufficient to restore normal volume and function in most forms of acute liver injury and medical interventions are not required. Regenerative therapies in hepatology rather aim to enhance repair mechanisms of the liver in situations, where the capacity to regenerate is severely impaired. Alternatively, regenerative technologies are applied to solve so far unmet medical needs. The development of such therapies requires a fundamental understanding of the (patho-) physiology of the liver. In this chapter we discuss the emerging medical approaches for acute liver failure, chronic liver failure and hereditary liver diseases, which are based on technologies such as (stem) cell therapy, tissue engineering, bio-artificial devices orgene therapies. Translation from the laboratory bench into routine clinical applications will also require consideration of the legal framework for "advanced therapy medicinal products" (ATMP) as well as "state of the art" manufacturing (GMP) and good clinical practice (GCP) guidelines.