Evaluation of a bioartificial liver based on a nonwoven fabric bioreactor with porcine hepatocytes in pigs.
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.
Li
Lan Juan
LJ
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
Du
Wei Bo
WB
Zhang
Yi Min
YM
Li
Jun
J
Pan
Xiao Ping
XP
Chen
Jia Jia
JJ
Cao
Hong Cui
HC
Chen
Yu
Y
Chen
Yue Mei
YM
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
D005688:Galactosamine