title: Evaluation of a bioartificial liver based on a nonwoven fabric bioreactor with porcine hepatocytes in pigs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We developed a bioartificial liver (BAL) based on a direct hemoperfusion typed nonwoven fabric bioreactor containing porcine hepatocytes. In this study, the efficacy of our BAL was evaluated with a pig fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) model.
  
  
  METHODS
  FHF was induced with intravenous administration of D-galactosamine (1.3 g/kg) in each pig. Twelve hours post D-galactosamine injection, fifteen pigs were divided into: a BAL group (n = 5), in which pigs received the BAL treatment with 1.0 to 1.3 x 10(9) hepatocytes for 6 h, a sham BAL group (n = 5), in which pigs received the BAL treatment without hepatocytes, and a FHF group (n = 5), in which pigs only received intensive care. Parameters related to liver function and animal survival up to 168 h were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the BAL group, blood ammonia and plasma lactate levels were lower, and serum glucose levels and Fischer index were higher than those in the other two groups. Survival time of pigs in the BAL group was significantly prolonged as compared with the sham BAL and the FHF group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BAL based on a nonwoven fabric bioreactor containing porcine hepatocytes appears to be effective in the treatment of FHF in pigs.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Public Health, Department of Infectious Diseases, The 1st Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China. ljli@mail.hz.zj.cn
authors.forename: Lan Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei Bo
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Yi Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Jia Jia
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hong Cui
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yue Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019149:Bioreactors; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004867:Equipment Design; D005688:Galactosamine / Q000633:toxicity; D006464:Hemoperfusion / Q000295:instrumentation*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D019164:Liver, Artificial; D008297:Male; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D013784:Textiles; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005688:Galactosamine