Therapeutic Potential of Propagated Hepatocyte Transplantation in Liver Failure

BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of intrasplenic transplantation of culture-propagated homologous hepatocytes in rats suffering from acute liver failure (ALF).MethodsALF was induced in dipeptidyl peptidase IV-negative (DPPIV−) Fischer 344 rats by totally removing the two anterior liver lobes (68% of the liver) and ligating the pedicle of the right lobe (24% of the liver). Hepatocytes isolated from DPPIV+ Fischer 344 rats were cultured for 11 d to propagate 3-fold, and the resulting hepatocytes were dubbed “culture-propagated hepatocytes (CPHEPs)”. A total of 1.5 × 107 cells of CPHEPs were transplanted intrasplenically before ALF induction (CPHEP group). Similarly, freshly isolated hepatocytes (FIHEPs) were transplanted as a positive control (FIHEP group), and culture medium (CM) was injected into rats as a negative control (CM group).ResultsThe survival of the CPHEP group was comparable to that of the FIHEP group and longer than that of the CM group (P < 0.01). Both CPHEP and FIHEP transplantation improved blood parameters such as ammonia, total bilirubin, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase; transplantation also affected liver tissue parameters such as apoptosis rate and bromodeoxyuridine-labeling index.ConclusionsTransplantation of culture-propagated homologous hepatocytes has a remarkable therapeutic potential for ALF in rats.