title: Use of decellularized porcine liver for engineering humanized liver organ.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  New bioartificial liver devices are needed to supplement the limited supply of organ donors available for patients with end-stage liver disease. Here, we report the results of a pilot study aimed at developing a humanized porcine liver by transplanting second trimester human fetal hepatocytes (Hfh) co-cultured with fetal stellate cells (Hfsc) into the decellularized matrix of a porcine liver.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ischemic livers were removed from 19 Yorkshire swine. Liver decellularization was achieved by an anionic detergent (SDS). The decellularized matrix of three separate porcine liver matrices was seeded with 3.5 × 10(8) and 1 × 10(9) of Hfsc and Hfh, respectively, and perfused for 3, 7, and 13 d. The metabolic and synthetic activities of the engrafted cells were assessed during and after perfusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistologic examination of the decellularized matrix showed removal of nuclear materials with intact architecture and preserved extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. During perfusion of the recellularized matrices, measurement of metabolic parameters (i.e., oxygen concentration, glucose consumption, and lactate and urea production) indicated active metabolism. The average human albumin concentration was 29.48 ± 7.4 μg/mL. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed cell differentiation into mature hepatocytes. Moreover, 40% of the engrafted cells were actively proliferating, and less than 30% of cells were apoptotic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We showed that our decellularization protocol successfully removed the cellular components of porcine livers while preserving the native architecture and most ECM protein. We also demonstrated the ability of the decellularized matrix to support and induce phenotypic maturation of engrafted Hfh in a continuously perfused system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary and Transplantation Surgery, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. omarbarakat@sbcglobal.net
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Barakat
authors.forename: Shahrzad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abbasi
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Jessie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rios
authors.forename: R Patrick
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: Laurie S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Holley
authors.forename: Polly K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Gauthier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates; D005947:Glucose; D010100:Oxygen