title: In vitro evaluation of the transportability of viable primary human liver cells originating from discarded donor organs in bioreactors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of primary human liver cells obtained from discarded donor organs is increasingly favored for cell-based extracorporeal liver support systems. However, as cryopreservation of primary human hepatocytes causes a significant loss of metabolic activity, the transport of bioreactors with viable liver cells is required. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of two major potential threats to viable cells during transport: temperature changes and mechanical stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  In each experiment three hollow fiber-based bioreactors were charged with primary human liver cells originating from the same discarded donor organ and were simultaneously kept under culture conditions for 8 days. In total, 18 bioreactors were evaluated. On the fifth day the bioreactors were exposed to hypothermia (4 degrees C, n = 3), to hyperthermia (42 degrees C, n = 3), or served as normothermic controls (37 degrees C, n = 3). In a second test series bioreactors were exposed to vibration (21 Hz for 20 min, thereafter 7 Hz for 160 min, n = 3), or were operated as control cultures (n = 6). The release of hepatocyte-specific enzymes was determined as an indicator for cell damage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypothermic stress resulted in a significant release of transaminases and led to disturbances of the histological integrity, all indicating a high degree of cell damage. When compared with the control cultures, hyperthermia and mechanical stress in terms of vibration had no significant effect on the cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The transport of hollow fiber bioreactors charged with viable primary human liver cells appears to be feasible in transport monitors for perfusion and temperature control.
authors.affiliation: General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Charité, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Berlin, Germany. igor.sauer@charite.de
authors.forename: Igor M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwartlander
authors.forename: Olav
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Van der Jagt
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.forename: Ekaterina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Efimova
authors.forename: Gesine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pless
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kehr
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kardassis
authors.forename: Jan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Fruhauf
authors.forename: Joerg C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gerlach
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors; D002470:Cell Survival; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement