Evaluation of a novel hybrid bioartificial liver based on a multi-layer flat-plate bioreactor.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a hybrid bioartificial liver (HBAL) system in the treatment of acute liver failure.

Methods: Canine models with acute liver failure were introduced with intravenous administration of D-galactosamine. The animals were divided into: the HBAL treatment group (n = 8), in which the canines received a 3-h treatment of HBAL; the bioartificial liver (BAL) treatment group (n = 8), in which the canines received a 3-h treatment of BAL; the non-bioartificial liver (NBAL) treatment group (n = 8), in which the canines received a 3-h treatment of NBAL; the control group (n = 8), in which the canines received no additional treatment.

Microbiological safety of a novel bio-artificial liver support system based on porcine hepatocytes: a experimental study.

Background: Our institute has developed a novel bio-artificial liver (BAL) support system, based on a multi-layer radial-flow bioreactor carrying porcine hepatocytes and mesenchymal stem cells. It has been shown that porcine hepatocytes are capable of carrying infectious porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) into human cells, thus the microbiological safety of any such system must be confirmed before clinical trials can be performed. In this study, we focused on assessing the status of PERV infection in beagles treated with the novel BAL.

[New evidence of porcine endogenous retrovirus transmission with new bio-artificial liver system: a experimental study].

Objective: To investigate the potential transmissibility of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) from a newly-developed porcine hepatocyte bioartificial liver (BAL) system prior to human clinical trial by using a live canine model.

Methods: Five normal beagles were treated with the new BAL support system for six hours. Samples of plasma from the BAL system and whole blood from the beagles were collected at regular intervals over the six month study period.

[The efficacy research of multi-layer flat-plate bioartificial liver on acute liver failure].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of newly developed multi-layer flat-plate bioartificial liver in treatment of canines with acute liver failure.

Methods: Porcine hepatocytes and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were cocultured in newly developed multi-layer flat-plate bioreactor. Acute liver failure in canine models was induced by D-galactosamine administration.

Immunosafety evaluation of a multilayer flat-plate bioartificial liver.

Introduction: To study and evaluate the immunosafety of our newly developed multilayer flat-plate bioartificial liver (BAL) in treatment of canines with acute liver failure.

Methods: Fresh porcine hepatocytes and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were cocultured in new BAL. Ten canine models with acute liver failure were set up through D-galactosamine administration; 24 hours after administration, the beagles were randomly allocated to a 6-hour treatment with the BAL.

The influence of membrane molecular weight cutoff on a novel bioartificial liver.

Given the xenogeneic immune reaction relevant to the molecular weight cutoff of the membrane of a bioartificial liver (BAL) system, we investigated the influence of membrane molecular weight cutoff in our BAL system in this study. Acute liver failure in beagles was induced by d-galactosamine administration. Eight beagles were divided into two groups by the membrane molecular weight cutoff of the plasma component separator.

Influence of chitosan nanofiber scaffold on porcine endogenous retroviral expression and infectivity in pig hepatocytes.

Aim: To investigate the influence of chitosan nanofiber scaffold on the production and infectivity of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) expressed by porcine hepatocytes.

Methods: Freshly isolated porcine hepatocytes were cultured with or without chitosan nanofiber scaffold (defined as Nano group and Hep group) for 7 d. The daily collection of culture medium was used to detect reverse transcriptase (RT) activity with RT activity assay kits and PERV RNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real time PCR with the PERV specific primers.

Protective effects of ACLF sera on metabolic functions and proliferation of hepatocytes co-cultured with bone marrow MSCs in vitro.

Aim: To investigate whether the function of hepatocytes co-cultured with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could be maintained in serum from acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) patients.

Methods: Hepatocyte supportive functions and cytotoxicity of sera from 18 patients with viral hepatitis B-induced ACLF and 18 healthy volunteers were evaluated for porcine hepatocytes co-cultured with MSCs and hepatocyte mono-layered culture, respectively. Chemokine profile was also examined for the normal serum and liver failure serum.

[Meta-analysis of efficacy and safety of liver transplantation in treating cholangiocarcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of liver transplantation for patients with cholangiocarcinoma.

Methods: According to the requirements of Cochrane systematic review, a thorough literature search was performed in Pubmed/Medline, Embase and Cochrane Central Register electronic databases ranged between 1995 and 2009 in terms of the key words "liver transplantation", and "cholangiocarcinoma" or "cholangiocellular carcinoma" or "bile duct cancer". And restricted the articles published in the English language.

Effects of membrane molecular weight cutoff on performance of a novel bioartificial liver.

Immunoisolation using semipermeable membranes has been incorporated into bioartificial liver (BAL) devices to separate cellular components of the recipient's immune system from the cells within the BAL device. This study was designed to explore the influence of membrane molecular weight cutoff on performance of the multilayer radial-flow BAL using porcine hepatocytes cocultured with mesenchymal stem cells. In this study, healthy beagles underwent 6-h treatment with a BAL containing membrane with 200 kDa retention rating or 1200 kDa retention rating.

Magnetically labeled mesenchymal stem cells after autologous transplantation into acutely injured liver.

Aim: To evaluate tracking of magnetically labeled mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after intraportal transplantation.

Methods: Mononuclear cells were isolated from bone marrow aspirates of pigs by density gradient centrifugation, cultured and expanded, after which, they were incubated with super paramagnetic iron oxide (SPIO). Prussian blue staining was performed to highlight intracellular iron.

[Study on the effects and mechanisms of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on porcine primary hepatocyte culture in vitro].

Objective: To investigate the expression and distribution of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the co-culture of porcine primary hepatocytes and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro.

Methods: Mononuclear cells were isolated from bone marrow of swine by density gradient centrifugation. MSCs of passage 3 and primary hepatocytes harvested by a two-step in situ collagenase perfusion technique were co-cultured, and the morphological and functional changes of heterotypic interactions were characterized.

Coencapsulation of hepatocytes with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells improves hepatocyte-specific functions.

Background: Hepatocyte transplantation is an alternative to liver transplantation, which is hampered by short survival time and immunorejection. In this study, we investigated the specific functions of hepatocytes coencapsulated with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro, and we further examined whether transplantation of coencapsulated hepatocytes and MSCs could enhance the ability of hepatocytes to alleviate acute liver failure in vivo.

Methods: Rat hepatocytes and MSCs were isolated and coencapsulated by alginate-poly-l-lysine-alginate microencapsulation.

In vitro evaluation of a multi-layer radial-flow bioreactor based on galactosylated chitosan nanofiber scaffolds.

Clinical use of bioartificial livers (BAL) strongly relies on the development of bioreactors. In this study, we developed a multi-layer radial-flow bioreactor based on galactosylated chitosan nanofiber scaffolds and evaluated its efficacy in vitro. The bioreactor contains 65 layers of stacked flat plates, on which the nanofiber scaffolds were electrospinned for hepatocyte immobilization and aggregation.