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Journal of Gastroenterology and Digestive Diseases | Volume 3
May 25-26, 2018 | New York, USA
World Liver Conference 2018
T
he shortage of eligible liver donors results in deaths of
patients waiting for liver transplantation. It is imperative
to identify alternative treatments to bridge the gap.
Decellularized liver scaffold based liver regeneration is a
promising approach to develop functional liver surrogates.
In the current study, decellularized rat liver scaffolds were
recellularized with human liver carcinoma cells (HepG2)
and re-endothelialized with rat sinusoidal endothelial cells.
Decellularized liver scaffolds that were only recellularized
with HepG2 were served as the control group.
In vitro
, the
liver scaffolds, that were repopulated with both HepG2
and endothelial cells, were found to upregulate hepatic cell
specific genes and perform superior hepatic functions when
compared to the counterparts that were only repopulated
with HepG2. Recellularized liver scaffolds were under
perfusion culture for seven days and then transplanted
to recipient rats heterotopically. The vasculatures of the
bioengineered liver grafts remained patent for at least 14
days post-transplantation as demonstrated by the ultrasound
imaging. Moreover, Doppler ultrasound observed blood
flow patterns similar in characteristics of the arterial and
venous flows, respectively, in the bioengineered liver grafts.
Functionally, the hepatic P450 metabolic activities and
the human albumin production were both detected in the
bioengineered liver grafts 14 days post-transplantation. Our
results strengthened the feasibility of engineering functional
liver surrogates utilizing decellularized liver scaffolds.
Speaker Biography
Fanwei Meng has completed his PhD in 2012 from the Department of Biomedical
Engineering at the University of Utah. He later on conducted his Post-doctoral trainings
at the McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center as well as the University of Texas Medical Center. His research focuses on cell-
derived biomaterials as well as biologic scaffold based regenerative approach. He
has published more than 10 papers in reputed journals. He is currently an Associate
Scientist at the Organ Transplantation Center of the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and
Research Center at Saudi Arabia.
e:
fmeng@kfshrc.edu.saTransplantation of bioengineered functional liver surrogates
Fanwei Meng
King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Saudi Arabia