Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Technique of Subnormothermic Ex Vivo Liver Perfusion for the Storage, Assessment, and Repair of Marginal Liver Grafts
Published on: August 13, 2014
Development of machine perfusion strategies for liver support and beyond
Boqi Fu1, Jinglin Wang1, Wenkui Yu2
1Division of Hepatobiliary and Transplantation Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Machine perfusion techniques like hypothermic, subnormothermic, and normothermic machine perfusion (HMP, SNMP, NMP) offer advanced liver preservation. These methods, combined with therapies, show promise for improving donor liver viability and expanding transplantation options.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology and Transplant Surgery
- Biomedical Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Donor organ shortage and ischemia-reperfusion injury are critical challenges in liver transplantation.
- Machine perfusion (MP) offers dynamic preservation and potential repair of donor livers.
- Understanding molecular injury mechanisms enhances MP's role in improving liver viability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review research on MP strategies for liver preservation and therapeutic applications beyond transplantation.
- To classify MP methods by temperature (HMP, SNMP, NMP) and discuss their benefits.
- To explore MP integration with novel therapies for enhanced liver repair and function.
Main Methods:
- Classification of MP based on temperature: hypothermic (HMP), subnormothermic (SNMP), and normothermic (NMP).
- Review of combined therapies: mesenchymal stem cells, gene regulation, defatting cocktails, autophagy/apoptosis modulators.
- Exploration of MP in supportive liver treatment, cancer therapy, and efficacy evaluation.
Main Results:
- Each MP type (HMP, SNMP, NMP) presents unique advantages for liver preservation and injury reduction.
- Combined therapies significantly enhance liver repair and regeneration potential.
- MP demonstrates potential in diverse clinical applications, including supportive care and cancer treatment.
Conclusions:
- MP technologies are advancing liver preservation and offer therapeutic potential beyond transplantation.
- Further research is needed to optimize perfusion parameters and understand immune responses.
- Addressing challenges is crucial for the clinical translation of MP for advanced liver therapies.
