Construction of a biocompatible decellularized porcine hepatic lobe for liver bioengineering.
OBJECTIVE
One of the major obstacles in applying decellularized organs for clinical use is the recellularization step, during which huge numbers of cells are required to develop whole livers. We established a simple protocol for constructing a bioartificial hepatic lobe and investigated its biocompatibility.


METHODS
The right lateral lobe of porcine liver was decellularized using 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate through the right branch of the portal vein. Decellularized lobes were evaluated by histological and biochemical analyses. DNA content was quantified to validate the decellularization protocol. The presence of immunogenic and pathogenic antigens was checked to exclude potential rejection and thrombosis after xenotransplantation. Xeno-reactivity of decellularized tissue against human peripheral blood mononuclear cells was examined. Cytotoxicity was evaluated against hepatocarcinoma cells. Finally, scaffolds were incubated in collagenase for biodegradation testing.


RESULTS
The decellularized lobe preserved the three-dimensional architecture, ultrastructure, extracellular matrix components, and vasculature. Scaffolds were almost depleted of DNA in addition to antigenic and pathogenic antigens, which are considered barriers to xenotransplantation. The human immune response against scaffolds was considered non-significant. Our matrices were biocompatible and biodegradable.


CONCLUSIONS
We successfully developed a non-cytotoxic, non-immunogenic, and biodegradable porcine hepatic lobe for future liver regeneration and bioengineering.
2 College of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon - Korea.
Kamal H
KH
Hussein
Kyung M
KM
Park
Hyun M
HM
Kim
Pankaj K
PK
Teotia
Jinn H
JH
Ghim
Heung M
HM
Woo
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D017364:Collagenases / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006085:Graft Survival; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D064593:Heterografts; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D019164:Liver, Artificial; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013997:Time Factors; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D023001:Transplantation Tolerance; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000379:methods*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D017364:Collagenases