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Title: Morphology and metabolic activity of a porcine liver stem cell line (PICM-19) maintained in a multicompartment hollow fiber bioreactor for two weeks

Author
item Willard, Ryan
item MEEKIN, J - HEPALIFE
item PETERS, G - UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
item BAUN, M - UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
item GERLACH, J - UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
item Talbot, Neil
item Caperna, Thomas

Submitted to: Transactions of the American Society of Artificial Internal Organs
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2008
Publication Date: 3/1/2008
Citation: Willard, R.R., Meekin, J.H., Peters, G.W., Baun, M.J., Gerlach, J.C., Talbot, N.C., Caperna, T.J. 2008. Morphology and metabolic activity of a porcine liver stem cell line (PICM-19) maintained in a multicompartment hollow fiber bioreactor for two weeks. Transactions of the American Society of Artificial Internal Organs. 54(2): 9A.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A functional hepatocyte cell line that differentiates normally is needed to develop a bioartificial liver (BAL). A porcine hepatic stem cell line, PICM-19H, maintained in a 3D multicompartmental hollow-fiber bioreactor (Hepalife Technologies) was studied. The bioreactor was filled with 400 million cells (8 ml total volume) and maintained for 14 d in medium containing insulin, glucagon and 5% FBS that was circulated in an 80ml perfusion loop at 30 ml/min and with fresh medium fed at 2-10 ml/h. Medium samples were collected daily. At termination core fibers were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde for transmission electron microscopy. Ultrastructure analysis showed STO feeder cells surrounded the hollow fibers and the PICM-19H cells layered (2-10 cells thick) themselves on the feeder cells. PICM-19H cells had typical hepatocyte features including intercellular canaliculi, extensive Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, peroxisomes and mitochondria. Glucose was utilized, while porcine albumin and urea was produced over the 14 d period. Ammonia levels fluctuated at first but were maintained below 100 nM throughout most of the 14 d. These data indicate that PICM-19H cells can maintain differentiated hepatic function in a novel hollow-fiber bioreactor and may be an ideal cell for the development of a hybrid liver support system.