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Sustaining a bioartificial liver under hypothermic conditions
Pamela H Lai1, Timothy D Sielaff, Wei-Shou Hu
1Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
Tissue Engineering
|May 5, 2005
Summary
Hypothermic treatment can damage bioartificial liver (BAL) devices. Preincubation with tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) protected hepatocytes, preserving BAL device function for liver failure treatment.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Organ Support Technology
Background:
- Bioartificial liver (BAL) devices utilize xenogeneic hepatocytes for temporary liver support in cases of liver failure.
- Clinical application necessitates the transportation of BAL devices from manufacturing sites to healthcare facilities.
- Hypothermic storage can compromise the viability and function of hepatocytes within BAL devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of hypothermic treatment on the performance of a collagen-entrapment BAL device.
- To identify chemical protectants that minimize hepatocyte damage during hypothermic storage.
- To evaluate the efficacy of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) in preserving BAL device function after hypothermia.
Main Methods:
- Development of a collagen-entrapment BAL device at the University of Minnesota.
- Exposure of BAL devices to hypothermic conditions.
- Assessment of various chemical protectants for their protective effects on hepatocytes.
- Preincubation of BAL devices with tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) prior to hypothermic treatment.
- Evaluation of post-treatment hepatocyte function through measurements of oxygen consumption, albumin synthesis, and urea synthesis.
Main Results:
- Hypothermic treatment negatively affected the performance of the collagen-entrapment BAL device.
- Preincubation with tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) significantly improved post-treatment BAL device performance.
- Hepatocyte function, including oxygen consumption, albumin, and urea synthesis, resumed to levels comparable to pretreatment values after TUDCA-protected hypothermic storage.
- TUDCA demonstrated effectiveness in minimizing hepatocyte damage during hypothermic conditions.
Conclusions:
- Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) is an effective protectant for xenogeneic hepatocytes in BAL devices during hypothermic storage.
- The described method of TUDCA preincubation facilitates the safe transportation and clinical application of BAL devices.
- This approach enhances the potential of BAL devices as a viable treatment option for liver failure.