Decellularized liver transplant could be recellularized in rat partial hepatectomy model

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering
• Hepatology

Background:

• Liver transplantation faces donor shortages, driving research into alternatives like decellularized scaffolds.
• In situ recellularization of decellularized liver scaffolds is a promising approach for liver regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) as an alternative to Triton X-100/SDS for decellularizing rat liver scaffolds.
• To assess the biocompatibility and recellularization capacity of SLES-treated decellularized liver scaffolds in vivo.

Main Methods:

• Rat livers were decellularized using SLES or Triton X-100/SDS.
• Scaffold integrity was assessed via histology, Raman microscopy, histochemistry, and DNA quantification.
• In vivo studies evaluated scaffold biocompatibility and recellularization using serum parameters, histology, and immunohistochemistry.

Main Results:

• Both SLES and Triton X-100/SDS preserved extracellular matrix components and effectively removed genetic material.
• SLES-treated scaffolds demonstrated good biocompatibility with no adverse effects on liver function.
• Transplanted SLES-treated scaffolds showed extensive neovascularization and infiltration by various liver cells, including hepatocytes.

Conclusions:

• Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) is a viable and promising agent for liver decellularization.
• SLES-treated decellularized liver scaffolds support robust revascularization and regeneration in vivo, offering a potential therapeutic alternative for liver failure.