title: In vitro comparison of two bioartificial liver support systems: MELS CellModule and AMC-BAL.
abstract: Clinically applied bioartificial liver (BAL) support systems are difficult to compare with regard to overall hepatocyte-specific function and clinical outcome. We compared two clinically applied BAL systems, the Modular Extracorporeal Liver Support (MELS) CellModule and the AMC-bioartificial liver (AMC-BAL) in an in vitro set-up. Both BAL systems were loaded with 10 billion freshly isolated porcine hepatocytes, cultured for 7 days and tested on days 1, 2, 4 and 7. Average decrease in hepatocyte-specific functions over 7 days was 9.7%. Three parameters differed between both bioreactors: lidocaine elimination at days 1 and 2 was significantly higher in the AMCBAL, ammonia elimination showed a significantly higher trend for the AMC-BAL over 7 days and LDH release was significantly lower at day 7 for the MELS CellModule. In conclusion, this first in vitro comparison of two clinically applied BAL systems shows comparable functional capacity over a period of 7 days.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery (Surgical Laboratory), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1100 DE Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P P C
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Poyck
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pless
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: A C W A
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Van Wijk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwartländer
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Van Gulik
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.forename: R A F M
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Chamuleau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019149:Bioreactors; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D019164:Liver, Artificial; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors