To investigate the clinical efficacy of umbilical cord blood stem cell transplantation on patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and to detect the effect on TNF-α concentration and the expression of CD45RO⁺ and granulocyte, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of decompensated cirrhosis.

80 patients with decompensated cirrhosis treated in the Dastroenterology Department of Affiliated Hospital of Hubei Medical College from July 2015 to July 2016 were selected and retrospectively analyzed. 40 patients in the observation group received umbilical cord blood stem cells transplantation through hepatic artery on the basis of symptomatic and supportive treatment, and 40 patients received routine treatment were included into control group. Liver function total bilirubin (TBIL), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (ALT), serum albumin (ALB) and glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (AST) levels were compared before treatment, and 2 months, 4 months and 6 months after treatment. And the related indicators of hepatic fibrosis and cytokines levels were also detected, including laminin (LN), hyaluronidase (HA),Ⅳ type collagenase (ⅣCol), procollagen Ⅲ (ⅢNP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). The expression levels of CD45RO⁺ lymphocyte and granulocyte were detected. Comparison between two groups was done with independent sample t-test.

The postoperative TBIL, ALT and AST levels of two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment [(33.65?± 10.26)?μmol/L vs (38.65±10.08) μmol/L; (56.76±14.27) U/L vs (64.23±14.56) U/L; (48.54± 17.04)?U/L vs (58.21±17.02) U/L]; While the postoperative ALB level was significantly higher than that before treatment [(36.65±8.32) μg/L vs (32.56±8.12) μg/L]; And the difference between the two groups after treatment was statistically significant (t = 2.199, 2.652, 2.199, 2.225, P = 0.031, 0.010, 0.032, 0.029). The postoperative LN, HA,ⅣCol and ⅢNP of two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment [(126.67±15.65) g/L vs (143.65±15.21) g/L; (231.67±34.43)?g/L vs (248.64?±34.87) g/L; (172.67±25.43) g/L vs (188.67±26.56) g/L; (32.54?±5.43)?g/L vs (38.54±6.41) g/L]; And the difference between the two groups after treatment was also statistically significant (t = 4.920, 2.190, 2.752, 4.517; P = 0, 0.032, 0.007, 0). TNF-α and IL-6 decreased gradually after treatment in the two groups [(14.78 ± 4.05) pg/ml vs (16.78 ± 4.32) pg/ml; (15.87 ± 6.05) pg/ml vs (19.09 ± 6.12) pg/ml ], and the difference was statistically significant after treatment (t = 2.136, 2.367; P = 0.036, 0.020). The expression level of CD45RO⁺ lymphocyte and granulocyte after treatment was lower than that before treatment [ (22.54±3.65)﹪ vs (25.11 ± 3.38)﹪; (22.54 ± 6.54)﹪ vs (25.54±6.37)﹪], and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (t = 3.267, 2.078, P = 0.002, 0.041).

Application of umbilical cord blood stem cell transplantation for patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis can effectively ameliorate the liver function, and reduce the related indicators of liver fibrosis, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and other cytokines as well as CD45RO⁺ lymphocytes and granulocyte expression levels. It can be used as a new effective treatment of decompensated cirrhosis.