Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 28, 2012; 18(28): 3752-3760
Published online Jul 28, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i28.3752
Evaluation of a novel hybrid bioartificial liver based on a multi-layer flat-plate bioreactor
Xiao-Lei Shi, Yue Zhang, Xue-Hui Chu, Bing Han, Jin-Yang Gu, Jiang-Qiang Xiao, Jia-Jun Tan, Zhong-Ze Gu, Hao-Zhen Ren, Xian-Wen Yuan, Yi-Tao Ding
Xiao-Lei Shi, Yue Zhang, Xue-Hui Chu, Bing Han, Jin-Yang Gu, Jiang-Qiang Xiao, Jia-Jun Tan, Hao-Zhen Ren, Xian-Wen Yuan, Yi-Tao Ding, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Jiangsu Province’s Key Medical Center for Hepatobiliary Disease, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China
Zhong-Ze Gu, State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Southeast University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Shi XL, Ding YT designed the research; Zhang Y, Chu XH, Han B, and Gu JY analyzed the data; Xiao JQ, Tan JJ, Gu ZZ, Ren HZ, and Yuan XW contributed analytic tools; Shi XL and Ding YT wrote the paper.
Supported by A grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30772129
Correspondence to: Dr. Yi-Tao Ding, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Jiangsu Province’s Key Medical Center for Hepatobiliary Disease, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China. yitaoding@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-25-83304616 Fax: +86-25-83317016
Received: December 21, 2011
Revised: April 26, 2012
Accepted: May 12, 2012
Published online: July 28, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a hybrid bioartificial liver (HBAL) system in the treatment of acute liver failure.

METHODS: Canine models with acute liver failure were introduced with intravenous administration of D-galactosamine. The animals were divided into: the HBAL treatment group (n = 8), in which the canines received a 3-h treatment of HBAL; the bioartificial liver (BAL) treatment group (n = 8), in which the canines received a 3-h treatment of BAL; the non-bioartificial liver (NBAL) treatment group (n = 8), in which the canines received a 3-h treatment of NBAL; the control group (n = 8), in which the canines received no additional treatment. Biochemical parameters and survival time were determined. Levels of xenoantibodies, RNA of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) and reverse transcriptase (RT) activity in the plasma were detected.

RESULTS: Biochemical parameters were significantly decreased in all treatment groups. The TBIL level in the HBAL group was lower than that in other groups (2.19 ± 0.55 μmol/L vs 24.2 ± 6.45 μmol/L, 12.47 ± 3.62 μmol/L, 3.77 ± 1.83 μmol/L, P < 0.05). The prothrombin time (PT) in the BAL and HBAL groups was significantly shorter than the NBAL and control groups (18.47 ± 4.41 s, 15.5 ± 1.56 s vs 28.67 ± 5.71 s, 21.71 ± 3.4 s, P < 0.05), and the PT in the HBAL group was shortest of all the groups. The albumin in the BAL and HBAL groups significantly increased and a significantly higher level was observed in the HBAL group compared with the BAL group (27.7 ± 1.7 g/L vs 25.24 ± 1.93 g/L). In the HBAL group, the ammonia levels significantly decreased from 54.37 ± 6.86 to 37.75 ± 6.09 after treatment (P < 0.05); there were significant difference in ammonia levels between other the groups (P < 0.05). The levels of antibodies were similar before and after treatment. The PERV RNA and the RT activity in the canine plasma were all negative.

CONCLUSION: The HBAL showed great efficiency and safety in the treatment of acute liver failure.

Keywords: Hybrid bioartificial liver; Acute liver failure; Flat plate bioreactor; Co-culture; Nanofiber scaffold