Fig. 1

Underlying mechanism complicated in mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) migration to damaged liver tissue. The connections between CXCR4 and SDF-1ɑ, c-Met and HGF, and finally VLA-4 and VCAM-1 underlie cell to cell interaction between endothelial cells (ECs) and MSCs, which, in turn, facilitate MSCs migration to damaged liver tissue. Then MSCs secrete anti-inflammatory molecules, such as PGE2, IDO, TGF-β, IL-10, and NO to down-regulate inflammation. These molecules prompt the change of inflammatory to proliferating phase largely defined by the secretion of PDGF and VEGF, sustaining hepatocyte formation and proliferation