{
  "abstract": "Introduction\n\nMetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a common chronic liver disease with significant clinical burden. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ESC-MSCs) in cellular and murine models of MASLD.Methods\n\nHepG2 cells were treated with palmitic acid (PA) and then co-cultured with ESC-MSCs. C57BL/6 mice were fed a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined, high-fat diet (CDAHFD) or a standard diet for 24 weeks. Either ESC-MSCs or vehicles were administered via tail vein injection at week 20. Lipid accumulation was assessed using Oil red O staining. Mitochondrial status was assessed using MitoTracker Red fluorescence, mtDNA content, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and antioxidant parameters.Results\n\nESC-MSC co-culture reduced PA-induced lipid accumulation, restored mitochondrial activity, decreased ROS, and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione redox balance. Expression of phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK), PGC1α, and PPARα was significantly upregulated. In CDAHFD-fed mice, ESC-MSC transplantation attenuated hepatic steatosis, restored mitochondrial DNA content, and reduced ROS accumulation with increased SOD activity and glutathione ratio. Hepatic expression of p-AMPK, PGC1α, and PPARα was also enhanced. These effects were abrogated by Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor. ESC-MSCs secreted hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which activated AMPK, suggesting an HGF-AMPK axis may serve as a potential paracrine mechanism.Conclusion\n\nESC-MSCs ameliorated hepatic steatosis in MASLD models by restoring mitochondrial activity and reducing oxidative stress, possibly involving HGF-associated AMPK pathway modulation. These findings support the potential of ESC-MSC therapy for MASLD.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.",
    "Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam 13620, Republic of Korea.",
    "Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Min Kyung Park",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-6065-3367"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yun Bin Lee"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Se-Mi Jung"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Yoo-Wook Kwon"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jung-Hwan Yoon"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8fnm0e986cvf5.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1093/stcltm/szag089",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13719285",
  "id": "8fnm0e986cvf5",
  "issns": [
    "2157-6564",
    "2157-6580"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958001",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "AcademicSubjects/MED00770"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "AcademicSubjects/SCI00960"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Original Research"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Pluripotent Stem Cells"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2716|Mesenchymal stem cell research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7224585108",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13719285?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13719285",
  "pmid": "42958001",
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": "Oxford University Press",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8fnm0e986cvf5.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-01T00:20:44Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42958001",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958001"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-02T12:23:16Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13719285",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/stcltm/szag089"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2716|Mesenchymal stem cell research",
      "subfield": "human-genetics"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate mitochondrial oxidative dysfunction in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.",
  "title_text": "Human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate mitochondrial oxidative dysfunction in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-03T12:20:22Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8fnm0e986cvf5",
  "venue": "Stem cells translational medicine",
  "versions": []
}