Original Articles
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1999. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 15, 1999; 5(3): 221-224
Published online Jun 15, 1999. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v5.i3.221
Cultivation of human liver cell lines with microcarriers acting as biological materials of bioartificial liver
Yi Gao, Xiao-Ping Xu, Huan-Zhang Hu, Ji-Zhen Yang
Yi Gao, Xiao-Ping Xu, Huan-Zhang Hu, Ji-Zhen Yang, Department of General Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, Guangdong Province, China
Yi Gao, male, born on 1961-04-06 in Beijing, Han nationality, graduated from Second Military Medical University as M.D. in 1992, associate professor of general surgery, director of postgraduate.
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.39570212.
Correspondence to: Dr. Yi Gao, Department of General Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, Guangdong Province, China
Telephone: +86-20-84339888 Ext.43549
Received: December 21, 1998
Revised: January 24, 1999
Accepted: February 16, 1999
Published online: June 15, 1999
Abstract

AIM: To improve the cultivation efficiency and yield of human liver cell line Cl-1.

METHODS: High-density cultivation of Cl-1 on microcarriers was carried out with periodic observation of their growth and proliferation. The specific functions of human liver cell were also determined.

RESULTS: Cells of Cl-1 cell line grew well on microcarrier Cytodex-3 and on the 7th day the peak was reached. The amount of Cl-1 cells was 2.13 × 108 and the total amount of albumin synthesis reached 71.23 μg, urea synthesis 23.32 mg and diazepam transformation 619.7 μg respectively. The yield of Cl-1 on microcarriers was 49.3 times that of conventional cultivation. The amounts of albumin synthesis, urea synthesis and diazepam transformation were 39.8 times, 41.6 times and 33.3 times those of conventional cultivation, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The human liver cell line Cl-1 can be cultivated to a high density with Cytodex-3 and has better biological functions. High-density cultivation of Cl-1 on microcarriers can act as the biological material of bioartificial liver.

Keywords: bioartificial liver; liver cell lines; microcarrier