title: Cryopreservation of primary porcine liver cells in an organotypical sandwich model in a clinically relevant flat membrane bioreactor.
abstract: To overcome the logistical difficulties of continuously supplying freshly-isolated, primary porcine liver cells to bioartificial liver support bioreactors, we developed a cryopreservation method using an organotypical sandwich model in a flat membrane bioreactor (FMB). We measured albumin secretion rate, urea synthesis rate and 7-ethoxy coumarin (ECOD) in long-term cultures of cryopreserved cells (up to 14 days). The albumin secretion rate was 62% that of non-cryopreserved cells at days 11 and 14. The ECOD activity was 54% that of fresh, control cells initially and increased up to 79% by the 14th day. The urea synthesis rate was stable at 60% that of the control. This study showed that cryopreserved cells can recover liver-specific functions. This result has the potential to dramatically expand the clinical application of bioartificial liver supports.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Technologies and Applied Stem Cell Biology, Biomedical-Biotechnological Center, University of Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. giri.shibashish@bbz.uni-leipzig.de
authors.forename: Shibashish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giri
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Weingartz
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nieber
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Acikgöz
authors.forename: Augustinus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bader
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D019149:Bioreactors; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003374:Coumarins / Q000378:metabolism; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D022781:Hepatocytes; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D003374:Coumarins; C017299:7-ethoxycoumarin; D014508:Urea