title: Positive biochemical effects of a bioartificial liver support system (BALSS) in a porcine fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) model.
abstract: This study describes biochemical changes in the plasma and blood of pigs with devascularised livers treated in a bioartificial liver support system (BALSS). Porcine hepatic cells were incubated with collagen-coated dextran microspheres (CDM) for 3 hours and the medium tested to determine cellular metabolic activity. Incubation continued for a further 18 hours during which the hepatic cells attach to the CDM. The CDM-attached cells were inoculated into a hollow fibre bioreactor which was part of an extracorporeal support system. Hepatic cell content of the bioreactor was 6 x 10(9) cells. The system was tested in a controlled trial in pigs prepared in a surgical model of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). When plasma from FHF pigs was circulated through the device containing hepatic cells, there was significantly less increase in the accumulation of ammonia and most amino acids, together with a decrease in plasma lactate and of one amino acid, compared to control experiments when hepatic cells were excluded. We conclude that primary porcine hepatocytes can contribute beneficial metabolic function in a BALSS.
authors.affiliation: Australian National Liver Transplantation Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Sheil
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Mears
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waring
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Woodman
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horvat
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koutalistras
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood; D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D019149:Bioreactors; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen; D003911:Dextrans; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology*; D019164:Liver, Artificial; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008863:Microspheres; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D003911:Dextrans; D012709:Serum Albumin; D019344:Lactic Acid; D000641:Ammonia; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D005340:Fibrinogen; D003094:Collagen