Biochemical activity of a hybrid liver support system based on porcine liver cells was investigated in patients suffering from acute liver failure, coma stage III-IV. Patient plasma was drawn systemically and after circulation through the bioreactor at four hour intervals. A method is used that takes into account the rate of plasma flow and the differences in plasma concentration systemically and after circulation through the liver support system to determine the net release or uptake of metabolites such as ammonia, urea and glucose. Urea release (mean 2.28 ± 0.37 μmol/h/g cells) and ammonia uptake (mean 0.17 ± 0.11 μmol/h/g cells) was seen during treatment, an active role of the system in glucose metabolism was observed. All patients were bridged successfully to liver transplantation.
Background: As a basis for future clinical questions, we evaluated the efficacy of hepatocyte transplantation in a surgical model using a subperitoneal or intrasplenic approach for cell implantation. Methods: In rats, acute liver failure was induced by subtotal hepatectomy. Series of allogenic hepatocyte transplantations were performed by varying cell number, site, and sequence of cell transplantation. Results: Following subperitoneal or intrasplenic cell implantation subsequent to liver surgery, no survival benefit was achieved when compared to the control groups. However, intrasplenic cell implantation 24 h prior to liver surgery revealed a statistically significantly higher animal survival (72 vs. 29%). Conclusion: According to our experience, both timing and site of cell implantation played an important role in hepatocyte transplantation. Intrasplenic hepatocyte transplantation 1 day before liver surgery showed the best results in terms of survival. Consequently, we were able to establish a model of hepatocyte transplantation which may be the basis for further investigations evaluating potential treatment modalities to overcome deleterious postoperative liver insufficiency.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.