Assessment of mesenchymal stromal cells promoting liver regeneration via intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging

Motivation: Scholars are proposing the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to promote liver regeneration and prevent postoperative liver function failure; however, no method currently exists for evaluating their effectiveness in vivo. Goal(s): We assessed whether intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) could be used to assess changes in liver regeneration in rats after partial hepatectomy. Approach: Rats undergoing stem cell therapy underwent imaging examinations at baseline and postoperative days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 14, and were compared with untreated rats. Results: Liver D, D*, and PF differed significantly between control rats and those receiving MSCs at all time points. Impact: Mesenchymal stem cells can promote liver regeneration by inducing cell hypertrophy and extending the proliferation period of liver cells. IVIM parameters enable monitoring changes in liver blood perfusion after mesenchymal stem cell therapy and show correlations with pathological indicators.