Background: Ex vivo perfusion of transplant-declined human organs has emerged as a promising platform to study the response of an organ to novel therapeutic strategies. However, to fully realize the capability of this platform for performing translational research in human organ pathophysiology, there is a need for robust assays to assess organ function and disease. State-of-the-art research methods rely on analyses of biopsies taken during perfusion, which both damages the organ and only provides localized information.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol
November 2023
The liver lymphatic system is essential for maintaining tissue fluid balance and immune function. The detailed structure of lymphatic vessels (LVs) in the liver remains to be fully demonstrated. The aim of this study is to reveal LV structures in normal and diseased livers by developing a tissue-clearing and coimmunolabeling protocol optimized for the tissue size and the processing time for three-dimensional (3-D) visualization and quantification of LVs in the liver.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFor decades, transplantation has been a life-saving treatment for those fortunate enough to gain access. Nevertheless, many patients die waiting for an organ and countless more never make it onto the waitlist because of a shortage of donor organs. Concurrently, thousands of donated organs are declined for transplant each year because of concerns about poor outcomes post-transplant.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVascular endothelial cells (ECs) play a central role in the pathophysiology of many diseases. The use of targeted nanoparticles (NPs) to deliver therapeutics to ECs could dramatically improve efficacy by providing elevated and sustained intracellular drug levels. However, achieving sufficient levels of NP targeting in human settings remains elusive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe current obesity epidemic has caused a significant decline in the health of our donor population. Organs from obese deceased donors are more prone to ischemia reperfusion injury resulting from organ preservation. As a consequence, these donors are more likely to be discarded under the assumption that nothing can be done to make them viable for transplant.
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