Effects of sex hormones on stem cells and stem cell therapy for liver fibrosis

Substantial progress has been made in the stem cell therapy for liver fibrosis. However, the therapeutic effect is limited by decreased self-renewal of stem cells during migration. Therefore, to improve the self-renewal of stem cells after transplantation is urgent and essential for the successful application of stem cells in clinical practice. Current studies have shown that sex hormones have an impact on the self-renewal of stem cells. The effects of estrogens and androgens on the self-renewal of various stem cells and the functional differences between the stem cells from persons of different sexes are reviewed. Moreover, the effect of sex hormones on stem cell therapy for liver fibrosis is discussed. It is considered that sex hormones have significant theoretical and clinical values for improving the self-renewal of stem cells and selecting appropriate stem cells in the stem cell therapy for liver fibrosis