title: Experimental hepatocyte xenotransplantation--a comprehensive review of the literature.
abstract: Hepatocyte transplantation (Tx) is a potential therapy for certain diseases of the liver, including hepatic failure. However, there is a limited supply of human livers as a source of cells and, after isolation, human hepatocytes can be difficult to expand in culture, limiting the number available for Tx. Hepatocytes from other species, for example, the pig, have therefore emerged as a potential alternative source. We searched the literature through the end of 2014 to assess the current status of experimental research into hepatocyte xenoTx. The literature search identified 51 reports of in vivo cross-species Tx of hepatocytes in a variety of experimental models. Most studies investigated the Tx of human (n = 23) or pig (n = 19) hepatocytes. No studies explored hepatocytes from genetically engineered pigs. The spleen was the most common site of Tx (n = 23), followed by the liver (through the portal vein [n = 6]) and peritoneal cavity (n = 19). In 47 studies (92%), there was evidence of hepatocyte engraftment and function across a species barrier. The data provided by this literature search strengthen the hypothesis that xenoTx of hepatocytes is feasible and potentially successful as a clinical therapy for certain liver diseases, including hepatic failure. By excluding vascular structures, hepatocytes isolated from genetically engineered pig livers may address some of the immunological problems of xenoTx.
authors.affiliation: Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.|Center for Kidney Transplantation, Second Affiliated Hospital of the University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Huidong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.|Department of General Surgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ezzelarab
authors.affiliation: McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schmelzer
authors.affiliation: Center for Kidney Transplantation, Second Affiliated Hospital of the University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gerlach
authors.affiliation: Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (ISMETT), Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gridelli
authors.affiliation: Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: David K C
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D006085:Graft Survival; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000637:transplantation*; D064593:Heterografts; D006801:Humans; D023421:Models, Animal; D013552:Swine; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends
keywords: hepatocytes; pig; xenotransplantation