glycogen and Liver-Failure--Acute

Explanted livers from patients with inherited metabolic liver diseases possess the potential to be a cell source of good-quality hepatocytes for hepatocyte transplantation (HT). This study evaluated the therapeutic effects of domino HT using hepatocytes isolated from explanted human livers for acute liver failure (ALF).. Isolated hepatocytes were evaluated for viability and function and then transplanted into D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-induced ALF mice via splenic injection. The survival rate was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Liver function was evaluated by serum biochemical parameters, and inflammatory cytokine levels were measured by ELISA. The pathological changes in the liver tissues were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Hepatocyte apoptosis was investigated by TUNEL, and hepatocyte apoptosis-related proteins were detected by western blot. The localization of human hepatocytes in the injured mouse livers was detected by immunohistochemical analyses.. Explanted livers from patients with inheritable metabolic disorders can serve as a viable cell source for cell-based therapies. Domino HT using hepatocytes with certain metabolic defects has the potential to be a novel therapeutic strategy for ALF.

Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Albumins; alpha 1-Antitrypsin; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Child; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; Galactosamine; Glycogen; Hepatocytes; Humans; Interleukin-6; Keratin-18; Lipopolysaccharides; Liver Failure, Acute; Metabolic Diseases; Mice; Serum Albumin, Human; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Urea

End-stage liver diseases frequently require liver transplantation. Cell therapy could be an alternative. This study aimed to analyze whether undifferentiated mesenchymal stromal cells (U-MSCs) or MSC-derived hepatocyte-like cells (DHLCs) from adipose tissue (AT), umbilical cord blood (UCB) and bone marrow (BM) would better restore damaged liver.. AT was obtained from lipo-aspiration, UCB from an Umbilical Cord Blood Bank and BM from a BM Transplantation Unit. AT (collagenase digestion), UCB and BM (Ficoll gradient) were cultured (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium, low glucose, FBS) for 3 days. Detached adherent cells, at passage 4, were characterized as MSCs. Genetic stability was investigated by means of telomerase enzyme activity and karyotype. Hepatocyte differentiation protocol was performed with the use of Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium, hepatocyte growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and nicotinamide (7 days); maturation medium (oncostatin, dexamethasone, insulin, transferrin and selenium) was added at 36 days. Hepatogenesis analyses were performed by use of morphology and albumin, AF, tyrosine-aminotransferase and glutamine synthetase gene expression and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction on days 9, 18, 25 and 36. Functionality was assessed through glycogen storage detection, indocyanine green absorption and transplantation procedure. U-MSCs and DHLCs were injected 48 h after induced fulminant hepatitis (intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride) in SCID/BALB-c mice. Histopathologic analyses were performed on days 7 and 15. Human origin included albumin and CK19 human markers.. All MSCs differentiated into functional hepatocyte-like cells, stored glycogen and absorbed indocyanine green. AT-MSC DHLC gene expression was more consistent with a normal hepatogenic-differentiation profile. UCB-MSCs expanded weakly, impairing their use for the transplantation procedure. AT and BM U-MSCs and DHLCs regenerated liver injury equally. Regenerated hepatocytes exhibited human origin.. AT might be the source and U-MSCS the stem cells useful for liver-regenerative therapy.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Animals; Biomarkers; Bone Marrow Cells; Carbon Tetrachloride; Cell Differentiation; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; Disease Models, Animal; Fetal Blood; Gene Expression; Glycogen; Hepatitis; Hepatocyte Growth Factor; Hepatocytes; Humans; Liver Failure, Acute; Liver Regeneration; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, SCID

The cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) is important for liver regeneration. IL-6 can stimulate target cells either by binding to the membrane-bound IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) leading to dimerization and activation of gp130 or by binding to a soluble IL-6R that results in an activation of gp130 independently of membrane-bound IL-6R, a process called trans-signaling. We have established a transgenic mouse line, in which only trans-signaling is abrogated whereas signaling via the membrane-bound IL-6R is intact. In the present study we employed this mouse model to ask whether the activity of IL-6 during repair of mild liver damage acts via classic or trans-signaling. We analyzed liver regeneration and showed that intracellular signaling, proliferation, and glycogenolysis are reduced in the transgenic mice and thus are regulated by IL-6 trans-signaling. Taken together our results show that upon liver damage, activation of the gp130 pathway depends on the sIL-6R.

Topics: Animals; Cytokine Receptor gp130; Galactosamine; Glycogen; Humans; Interleukin-6; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental; Liver Failure, Acute; Liver Regeneration; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Models, Animal; Protein Engineering; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Signal Transduction

A liver transplant is considered today to be the only effective therapeutic solution for many otherwise intractable hepatic disorders. However, liver transplantation is beset by shortage of donors. Over the years, many liver support systems have been developed to supply the liver functions, mostly as a bridge to transplantation. Transplantation of isolated hepatocytes (HcTx) instead of whole liver has constituted one of the most appealing possibilities to treat several diseases. We compared two different models of HcTx in a surgical model of acute liver failure in pigs, using microencapsulated hepatocytes (MHcTx) and hepatocytes attached to a porcine biomatrix (PBMHcTx), both transplanted into peritoneum. The collected data were survival, laboratory findings, hemodynamic parameters, light microscopy, histology, MTT, and glycogen content. The group with PBMHcTx has a better outcome than the group with MHcTx (p < 0.05). Histology showed normal morphology of the hepatocytes, high glycogen content, 75% viability, positive MTT, and 95% adhesion of the hepatocytes to the biomatrix. Our biomatrix (PBM) provides cell-to-cell contact and interaction with extracellular matrix, which have been shown to play major roles in hepatocyte survival and physiologic regulation of gene expression, and guarantee a prompt engraftment and an adequate neovascularization. PBMHcTx is a useful method to treat acute liver failure and it indicates a possible liver-direct gene therapy in the treatment of inherited and acquired disorders.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Biocompatible Materials; Cell Adhesion; Cell Size; Cell Survival; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Compounding; Extracellular Matrix; Glycogen; Graft Survival; Hepatocytes; Liver Failure, Acute; Male; Survival Rate; Sus scrofa; Tissue Transplantation; Treatment Outcome