Recently, researchers have focused on the use of bioartificial liver (BAL) to support patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). We have developed a cell-based BAL, consisting of porcine hepatocytes in a hollow- fiber bioreactor. To better characterize BAL metabolic functions in vitro, bioreactors were inoculated with 48-h-cultured, microcarrier-attached hepatocytes and perifused with recirculating human plasma that contained either 1 μCi of [24-14C] plasma-enriched cholate or 1 μCi of [24-14C] plasma-enriched taurocholate. Bile acids were sampled hourly and separated into four fractions (unconjugated, glycoconjugated, tauroconjugated, and sulfated) for radioactivity determination. Following 3 h perifusion, the glycoconjugated and sulfated bile acid fractions in the bioreactor extrafiber space were significantly elevated when compared to the recirculating plasma. During perifusion with taurocholate-enriched plasma, a relative decrease in the tauroconjugated fraction and an increase...
In vitro morphological and functional characterization of isolated porcine hepatocytes for extracorporeal liver support: bile acid uptake and conjugation.
AZZENA, Gianfranco;
1998
Abstract
Recently, researchers have focused on the use of bioartificial liver (BAL) to support patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). We have developed a cell-based BAL, consisting of porcine hepatocytes in a hollow- fiber bioreactor. To better characterize BAL metabolic functions in vitro, bioreactors were inoculated with 48-h-cultured, microcarrier-attached hepatocytes and perifused with recirculating human plasma that contained either 1 μCi of [24-14C] plasma-enriched cholate or 1 μCi of [24-14C] plasma-enriched taurocholate. Bile acids were sampled hourly and separated into four fractions (unconjugated, glycoconjugated, tauroconjugated, and sulfated) for radioactivity determination. Following 3 h perifusion, the glycoconjugated and sulfated bile acid fractions in the bioreactor extrafiber space were significantly elevated when compared to the recirculating plasma. During perifusion with taurocholate-enriched plasma, a relative decrease in the tauroconjugated fraction and an increase...I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
