Premium
Cryopreservation of primary human hepatocytes: The benefit of trehalose as an additional cryoprotective agent
Author(s) -
Katenz Ekaterina,
Vondran Florian Wolfgang Rudolf,
Schwartlander Ruth,
Pless Gesine,
Gong Xiaobing,
Cheng Xiandong,
Neuhaus Peter,
Sauer Igor Maximilian
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
liver transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.814
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1527-6473
pISSN - 1527-6465
DOI - 10.1002/lt.20921
Subject(s) - cryopreservation , trehalose , medicine , primary (astronomy) , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , biology , embryo , physics , astronomy
Problems with the limited availability of human hepatocytes for cell transplantation may be overcome by efficient cryopreservation techniques and formation of appropriate cell banking. In this study we investigated the effect of the disaccharide trehalose on the cryopreservation of human hepatocytes. For analysis, liver cells were frozen in culture medium containing 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) that was supplemented with varying concentrations of trehalose. During the postthawing culture period, viability, plating efficiency, total protein, cell proliferation, enzyme leakage, albumin and urea formation, as well as phase I and II metabolism were analyzed. In the pilot study, among the concentrations investigated, 0.2 M trehalose showed the best overall outcome. Compared to the use of DMSO alone, we found significant improvement in postthaw cell viability (62.9 ± 13 vs. 46.9 ± 11%, P < 0.01) and plating efficiency (41.5 ± 18 vs. 17.6 ± 13%, P < 0.01) in the trehalose group. The use of trehalose as an additive for cryopreserving human hepatocytes resulted in a significantly increased total protein level in the attached cells, higher secretion of albumin and a lower aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level after thawing. In conclusion, the use of trehalose as cryoprotective agent significantly improves the outcome of human hepatocyte cryopreservation. Liver Transpl, 2007. © 2006 AASLD.