In vitro comparison of two bioartificial liver support systems: MELS CellModule and AMC-BAL.
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.
Poyck
P P C
PP
Department of Surgery (Surgical Laboratory), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1100 DE Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Pless
G
G
Hoekstra
R
R
Roth
S
S
Van Wijk
A C W A
AC
Schwartländer
R
R
Van Gulik
T M
TM
Sauer
I M
IM
Chamuleau
R A F M
RA
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