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Updated: Jan 12, 2026
Porcine Liver Transplantation Without Veno-Venous Bypass As an Extended Criteria Donor Model
Published on: August 17, 2022
"Off-The-Shelf" Bioartificial Liver Support System Using Cryopreserved Immobilized Hepatocyte Spheroids in a Porcine
Ji-Hyun Lee1, Young-A Kim1, Doo-Hoon Lee2
1Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center, Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Background:
We had previously established an adequate cryopreservation process for hepatocyte spheroids for the development of an off-the-shelf bioartificial liver (BAL) system. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a BAL system containing cryopreserved immobilized porcine hepatocyte spheroids in a porcine model of acute liver failure (ALF).
Methods:
ALF pigs were divided into three groups. The control group consisted of treatment-naïve pigs (n = 5), the blank group consisted of pigs that were attached to the BAL system not containing hepatocyte spheroids for 12 h (n = 5), and the BAL group consisted of pigs that were attached to the BAL containing hepatocyte spheroids for 12 h (n = 5).
Results:
Analysis of specific oxygen uptake rates showed that the hepatocytes sustained vigorous activity throughout the 12-h period of BAL operation. Median survival time of pigs was 24.0 h in the BAL group, 17.0 h in the blank group, and 15.0 h in the control group. The BAL group showed significantly prolonged survival according to Kaplan-Meier survival analysis compared to the blank group (p = 0.04) and control group (p = 0.04). Serum ammonia levels were significantly increased in the blank group (p < 0.01) and control group (p < 0.01), compared to the BAL group during the treatment period of the porcine ALF models. Prothrombin time (PT) was significantly lower in the BAL group compared to the blank group (p = 0.04) and control group (p = 0.01).
Conclusions:
A BAL system with a bioreactor containing cryopreserved immobilized hepatocyte spheroids showed effective clearance of serum ammonia, preservation of renal function, and improved survival in a porcine model of ALF.
