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Hepatocyte xenotransplantation for treating liver disease
Author(s) -
Bonavita André Gustavo,
Quaresma Kátia,
CottadeAlmeida Vinícius,
Pinto Marcelo Alves,
Saraiva Roberto Magalhães,
Alves Luiz Anastácio
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
xenotransplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.052
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1399-3089
pISSN - 0908-665X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3089.2010.00588.x
Subject(s) - xenotransplantation , bioartificial liver device , economic shortage , liver transplantation , liver disease , transplantation , hepatocyte , medicine , immunology , cancer research , biology , in vitro , biochemistry , linguistics , philosophy , government (linguistics)
Bonavita AG, Quaresma K, Cotta‐de‐Almeida V, Alves Pinto M, Magalhães Saraiva R, Anastácio Alves L. Hepatocyte xenotransplantation for treating liver disease. Xenotransplantation 2010; 17: 181–187. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: The treatment of acute and chronic liver failure is still a challenge despite modern therapeutic innovations. While liver transplantation can restore liver function and improve patient survival, donor shortages limit this treatment to a small number of patients. Cellular xenotransplantation has emerged as an alternative for treating liver failure. Xenohepatocytes could be readily available in sufficient quantities to treat patients in critical condition and thereby reduce the donor shortage. The use of isolated encapsulated or non‐encapsulated cells can reduce the immunorejection response. Several studies using animal models of acute or chronic liver failure have demonstrated improved survival and recovery of liver function after xenotransplantation of adult hepatocytes. Porcine liver cells are a potential source of xenohepatocytes due to similarities with human physiology and the great number of hepatocytes that can be obtained. The recent development of less immunogenic transgenic pigs, new immunosuppressive drugs, and cellular encapsulation systems represents important advances in the field of cellular xenotransplantation. In this study, we review the work carried out in animal models that deals with the advantages and limitations of hepatocyte xenotransplantation, and we propose new studies needed in this field.