Numerical model of fluid flow and oxygen transport in a radial-flow microchannel containing hepatocytes

The incorporation of monolayers of cultured hepatocytes into an extracorporeal perfusion system has become a promising approach for the development of a temporary bioartificial liver (BAL) support system. In this paper we present a numerical investigation of the oxygen tension, shear stress, and pressure drop in a bioreactor for a BAL composed of plasma-perfused chambers containing monolayers of porcine hepatocytes. The chambers consist of microfabricated parallel disks with center-to-edge radial flow. The oxygen uptake rate (OUR), measured in vitro for porcine hepatocytes, was curve-fitted using Michaelis-Menten kinetics for simulation of the oxygen concentration profile. The effect of different parameters that may influence the oxygen transport inside the chambers, such as the plasma flow rate, the chamber height, the initial oxygen tension in the perfused plasma, the OUR, and K(m) was investigated. We found that both the plasma flow rate and the initial oxygen tension may have an important effect upon oxygen transport. Increasing the flow rate and/or the inlet oxygen tension resulted in improved oxygen transport to cells in the radial-flow microchannels, and allowed significantly greater diameter reactor without oxygen limitation to the hepatocytes. In the range investigated in this paper (10 microns < H < 100 microns), and for a constant plasma flow rate, the chamber height, H, had a negligible effect on the oxygen transport to hepatocytes. On the contrary, it strongly affected the mechanical stress on the cells that is also crucial for the successful design of the BAL reactors. A twofold decrease in chamber height from 50 to 25 microns produced approximately a fivefold increase in maximal shear stress at the inlet of the reactor from 2 to 10 dyn/cm2. Further decrease in chamber height resulted in shear stress values that are physiologically unrealistic. Therefore, the channel height needs to be carefully chosen in a BAL design to avoid deleterious hydrodynamic effects on hepatocytes.     

Radiosensitivity of parenchymal hepatocytes as a function of oxygen concentration

To investigate the mechanism(s) of hepatocyte radioresistance (D0 2.7 Gy), the radiosensitivities of respiring (37 degrees C) and nonrespiring (0 degrees C) hepatocytes were determined as a function of oxygen concentration. Fischer 344 female rat hepatocytes were isolated by liver perfusion, equilibrated in Leibowitz-15 media with different oxygen tensions, and exposed to 60Co radiation at either 37 or 0 degrees C. Cell survival and DNA single-strand breaks were used as the biological end points of radiosensitivity. The K value for respiring hepatocytes (37 degrees C) was 14.3 +/- 0.5 mm Hg O2 (18.8 +/- 0.7 mumol O2/liter), demonstrating that the K value for freshly isolated parenchymal hepatocytes is significantly greater than those previously obtained for cultured cells. In contrast, the K value for nonrespiring hepatocytes (0 degree C) is 1.4 +/- 0.4 mm Hg O2 (3.7 +/- 1.0 mumol O2/liter) indicating that hepatocyte respiration results in a plasma membrane-to-nucleus oxygen gradient of approximately 12.9 +/- 0.6 mm Hg (15.1 +/- 1.2 microns O2/liter). The hypothesis that the hepatic nucleus typically resides in a hypoxic condition, although the liver is uniformly perfused with well-oxygenated blood, is supported by (1) the nonradom perinuclear distribution of the mitochondria, (2) the high cellular respiration rate, and (3) the large intracellular oxygen diffusion distance in hepatocytes (25 microns diameter).     

Characteristics of taurine transport in rat hepatocytes in primary culture

Characteristics of taurine transport in rat hepatocytes maintained in primary culture for 24 h (cultured hepatocytes) have been investigated. The uptake of [3H] taurine by cultured hepatocytes at 2 degrees C was unsaturable, whereas that at 37 degrees C consisted of unsaturable and saturable processes. The saturable transport system was sodium-dependent and consisted of two processes with low and with high affinities. The latter process (Km, 76.9 microM; Vmax, 0.256 nmole/mg protein/min; activation energy (EA), 37.8 kcal mol-1) was competitively inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol and ouabain, as well as by taurine analogues such as hypotaurine and guanidinoethyl sulphonate. The Vmax and EA values found in cultured hepatocytes at 37 degrees C were 6.0 and 6.8 times higher than those found in freshly isolated hepatocytes. These results indicate that taurine transport in hepatocytes in primary culture consisted of unsaturable, and saturable, sodium and energy-dependent carrier-mediated transport processes, respectively. The facilitation of the latter transport system by primary culture of hepatocytes is also suggested.     

Hypoxemic resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock prevents lung injury and attenuates oxidative response and IL-8 overexpression

We investigated whether hypoxemic resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock prevents lung injury and explored the mechanisms involved. We subjected rabbits to hemorrhagic shock for 60 min by exsanguination to a mean arterial pressure of 40 mm Hg. By modifying the fraction of the inspired oxygen, we performed resuscitation under normoxemia (group NormoxRes, P(a)O(2)=95-105 mm Hg) or hypoxemia (group HypoxRes, P(a)O(2)=35-40 mm Hg). Animals not subjected to shock constituted the sham group (P(a)O(2)=95-105 mm Hg). We performed bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, lung wet-to-dry weight ratio, and morphological studies. U937 monocyte-like cells were incubated with BAL fluid from each group. Cell peroxides, malondialdehyde, proteins, and cytokines in the BAL fluid were lower in sham than in shocked animals and in HypoxRes than in NormoxRes animals. The inverse was true for ascorbic acid and reduced glutathione. Lung edema, lung neutrophil infiltration, myeloperoxidase, and interleukin (IL)-8 gene expression were reduced in lungs of HypoxRes compared with NormoxRes animals. A colocalized higher expression of IL-8 and nitrotyrosine was found in lungs of NormoxRes animals compared to HypoxRes animals. The BAL fluid of NormoxRes animals compared with HypoxRes animals exerted a greater stimulation of U937 monocyte-like cells for proinflammatory cytokine release, particularly for IL-8. In the presence of p38-MAPK and Syk inhibitors and monosodium urate crystals, IL-8 release was reduced. We conclude that hypoxemic resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock ameliorates lung injury and reduces oxygen radical generation and lung IL-8 expression.     

Enzyme electrode for phenol

An enzyme electrode is described for quantitative determination of phenol at micromolar concentrations. Immobilized phenol hydroxylase is attached to the surface of a Clark oxygen electrode. The Maximum rate of oxygen consumption is linearly dependent on phenol concentration over the 0.5–50μM range. The electrode can be used for at least 150 assays without an activity loss. Readout is very rapid—within 30 sec of sample addition. The electrode response is independent of pH between pH 6.5 and 9.5. The response increases linearly with temperature in the interval 10–40°C. It is necessary to incubate the enzyme electrode in a buffer containing NADPH for a few minutes before the addition of sample. This is to make the electrode response independent of the diffusion rate of this cosubstrate. This and other diffusional effects on the performance of the phenol electrode are discussed.     

Development of a bioartificial liver employing xenogeneic hepatocytes

Liver failure is a major cause of mortality. A bioartificial liver (BAL) employing isolated hepatocytes can potentially provide temporary support for liver failure patients. We have developed a bioartificial liver by entrapping hepatocytes in collagen loaded in the luminal side of a hollow fiber bioreactor. In the first phase of development, liver-specific metabolic activities of biosynthesis, biotransformation and conjugation were demonstrated. Subsequently anhepatic rabbits were used to show that rat hepatocytes continued to function after the BAL was linked to the test animal. For scale-up studies, a canine liver failure model was developed using D-galactosamine overdose. In order to secure a sufficient number of hepatocytes for large animal treatment, a collagenase perfusion protocol was established for harvesting porcine hepatocytes at high yield and viability. An instrumented bioreactor system, which included dissolved oxygen measurement, pH control, flow rate control, an oxygenator and two hollow fiber bioreactors in series, was used for these studies. An improved survival of dogs treated with the BAL was shown over the controls. In anticipated clinical applications, it is desirable to have the liver-specific activities in the BAL as high as possible. To that end, the possibility of employing hepatocyte spheroids was explored. These self-assembled spheroids formed from monolayer culture exhibited higher liver-specific functions and remained viable longer than hepatocytes in a monolayer. To ease the surface requirement for large-scale preparation of hepatocyte spheroids, we succeeded in inducing spheroid formation in stirred tank bioreactors for both rat and porcine hepatocytes. These spheroids formed in stirred tanks were shown to be morphologically and functionally indistinguishable from those formed from a monolayer. Collagen entrapment of these spheroids resulted in sustaining their liver-specific functions at higher levels even longer than those of spheroids maintained in suspension. For use in the BAL, a mixture of spheroids and dispersed hepatocytes was used to ensure a proper degree of collagen gel contraction. This mixture of spheroids and dispersed cells entrapped in the BAL was shown to sustain the high level of liver-specific functions. The possibility of employing such a BAL for improved clinical performance warrants further investigations.     

Comparison of methods for measuring oxygen consumption in tumor cells in vitro

The oxygen consumption rate of tumor cells affects tumor oxygenation and response to therapies. Highly sensitive methods for determining cellular oxygen consumption are, therefore, needed to identify treatments that can modulate this parameter. We compared the performances of three different methods for measuring cellular oxygen consumption: electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) oximetry, the Clark electrode, and the MitoXpress fluorescent assay. To compare the assays, we used K562 cells in the presence of rotenone and hydrocortisone, compounds that are known to inhibit the mitochondrial electron transport chain to different extents. The EPR method was the only one that could identify both rotenone and hydrocortisone as inhibitors of tumor cell oxygen consumption. The Clark electrode and the fluorescence assay demonstrated a significant decrease in cellular oxygen consumption after administration of the most potent inhibitor (rotenone) but failed to show any significant effect of hydrocortisone. EPR oximetry is, therefore, the most sensitive method for identifying inhibitors of oxygen consumption on cell assays, whereas the Clark electrode offers the unique opportunity to add external compounds during experiments and still shows great sensitivity in studying enzyme and chemical reactions that consume oxygen (non-cell assays). Finally, the MitoXpress fluorescent assay has the advantage of a high-sample throughput and low bulk requirements but at the cost of a lower sensitivity.     

Characteristics of the methylammonium/ammonium transport systems of the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Anabaena 7120 (ATCC 27893)

NH4(+)-transport in Anabaena 7120 was studied using the NH4+ analogue, 14CH3NH3+. At pH 7, two energy-dependent NH4(+)-transport systems were detected in both N2- and NO3(-)-grown cells, but none in NH4(+)-grown cells. Both transport systems showed a low and a high affinity mode of operation depending on the substrate concentration. One of the transport systems showed Km values of 8 microM (Vmax = 1 nmole min-1mg-1protein) and 80 microM (Vmax = 7 nmole min-1mg-1protein), and was insensitive to L-methionine-DL-sulphoximine, a glutamate analogue and irreversible inhibitor of glutamine synthetase. The other transport system showed Km values of 2.5 microM (Vmax = 0.1 nmole min-1mg-1protein) and 70 microM (Vmax = 0.7 nmole min-1mg-1protein), and was sensitive to L-methionine-DL-sulphoximine. Intracellular accumulation of free 14CH3NH3+ showed a biphasic pattern in response to variation in external 14CH3NH3+ concentrations. A maximum intracellular concentration of 2.5 mM and 7.5 mM was reached in the external 14CH3NH3+ concentration range of 1-50 microM and 1-500 microM, respectively. At pH 9, an energy-independent diffusion of 14CH3NH2 leading to a higher intracellular accumulation and assimilation rate, than that at pH 7, was observed.     

Oxygen dependence and subcellular partitioning of hepatic menadione-mediated oxygen uptake. Studies with isolated hepatocytes, mitochondria, and microsomes from rat liver in an oxystat system

Using an oxystat system, menadione (2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone)-mediated oxygen uptake was investigated in isolated rat hepatocytes, in malate/glutamate-supplemented mitochondria, and in NADPH-reduced microsomes at steady-state oxygen partial pressures (pO2) between 0.1 to 100 mm Hg (0.2-150 microM O2). Menadione-mediated stimulation of oxygen uptake was half-maximal at pO2 of 0.5, 0.2, and 0.9 mm Hg, respectively. In hepatocytes and mitochondria half-maximal concentrations of menadione were 15 and 4 microM. However, in microsomes saturation with menadione was not reached at concentrations up to 300 microM. Antimycin A inhibited menadione-mediated oxygen uptake in hepatocytes and mitochondria by about three-fourths, while rotenone was without inhibitory effect; KCN inhibited practically completely. In mitochondria menadione-stimulated oxygen uptake was significantly inhibited by dicoumarol but further enhanced by the addition of ADP, even in the presence of rotenone. The results suggest that menadione-mediated hepatocellular oxygen uptake proceeds almost independently of pO2 in most regions of the liver lobule but that in areas of low pO2 such as the centrolobular regions limitation by oxygen may occur. They also demonstrate that in the intact hepatocyte menadione-mediated oxygen uptake predominantly (greater than 90%) results from electron transfer in the mitochondrial respiratory chain by menadione.     

Evaluation of the kinetics of the intracellular reduction of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol in normal and transformed hepatocytes measured by amperometric methods

Amperometric methods were used to study the kinetics of intracellular reduction of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCIP) in normal and transformed hepatocytes with glucose and succinate as substrates. The curves showing the formation of DCIPred as a function of time were biphasic, the first part obeying the equation of a pseudo-first-order reaction, the final part corresponding to Michaelis-Menten kinetics. A statistical method was used to estimate pseudo-first-order rate constants k as well as Km and Vmax values. At saturating glucose concentrations k, Km and Vmax values were higher in normal compared to transformed cells. Decreasing glucose concentrations revealed lowered saturation concentrations in tumour cells compared to normal cells. With succinate as substrate for hepatocytes, k values were higher than with glucose, while Km and Vmax were about the same. Hepatoma cells did not metabolize succinate. K values could be attributed to intracellular dehydrogenase activities including cytosolic and mitochondrial processes. Differences in pseudo-first-order rate constants between normal and tumour cells may therefore represent characteristic alterations associated with transformation.     

Atrial natriuretic peptides cleaved by endopeptidase are inactive in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats

The dose-related natriuretic and depressor responses to atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP) 99-126, 103-126 and 103-123 were determined in unanesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and were compared to the activities of their Cys105-Phe106 ring-opened metabolites. These metabolites were previously identified as the major initial products formed by incubation of the intact peptides with neutral endopeptidase (NEP). The areas over the curves (AOC) of the depressor responses to the intact peptides were dose-related and, at 30 nmole/kg, iv were greatest for ANP 99-126 and 103-126 (833 +/- 241 and 1157 +/- 221 mm Hg x min). Thirty nmole/kg of ANP 103-123, a possible product of NEP cleavage of ANP 103-126, produced a lesser AOC (442 +/- 152 mm Hg x min) than did either of the longer peptides. The AOC responses to 100 nmole/kg of the ring-opened metabolites of ANP 99-126, 103-126 and 103-123 (105 +/- 80, 153 +/- 43 and 148 +/- 64 mm Hg x min) were not significantly different from the effect of vehicle treatment (84 +/- 23 mm Hg x min). Although the natriuretic responses to increasing doses of the intact peptides did not occur in a linear fashion, sodium excretion was maximally elevated by 24 +/- 4, 16 +/- 3 and 10 +/- 3 microEq/kg/min by 3 nmole/kg of ANP 99-126, 30 nmole/kg of ANP 103-126 and 10 nmole/kg of ANP 103-123, respectively. In contrast, the natriuretic responses to 100 nmole/kg of the ring-opened metabolites of ANP 99-126, 103-126 and 103-123 (1 +/- 0, 5 +/- 2 and 2 +/- 1 microEq/kg/min, respectively) were not significantly different from the response to vehicle treatment (3 +/- 1 microEq/kg/min). In conclusion, three ring-opened products of NEP cleavage of ANP 99-126, 103-126 and 103-123 were inactive in conscious SHR.     

Measurement of tumor oxygenation: in vivo comparison of a luminescence fiber-optic sensor and a polarographic electrode in the p22 tumor

Hypoxia is important in tumor biology and therapy. This study compared the novel luminescence fiber-optic OxyLite sensor with the Eppendorf polarographic electrode in measuring tumor oxygenation. Using the relatively well-oxygenated P22 tumor, oxygen measurements were made with both instruments in the same individual tumors. In 24 air-breathing animals, pooled electrode pO(2) readings lay in a range over twice that of sensor pO(2(5min)) values (-3.2 to 80 mm Hg and -0.1 to 34.8 mm Hg, respectively). However, there was no significant difference between the means +/- 2 SE of the median pO(2) values recorded by each instrument (11.0 +/- 3.3 and 8.1 +/- 1.9 mm Hg, for the electrode and sensor respectively, P = 0.07). In a group of 12 animals treated with carbon monoxide inhalation to induce tumor hypoxia, there was a small but significant difference between the means +/- 2 SE of the median pO(2) values reported by the electrode and sensor (1.7 +/- 0.9 and 2.9 +/- 0.7 mm Hg, respectively, P = 0.009). A variable degree of disparity was seen on comparison of pairs of median pO(2) values from individual tumors in both air-breathing and carbon monoxide-breathing animals. Despite the differences between the sets of readings made with each instrument from individual tumors, we have shown that the two instruments provide comparable assessments of tumor oxygenation in groups of tumors, over the range of median pO(2) values of 0.6 to 28.1 mm Hg.     

Bioartificial liver system based on choanoid fluidized bed bioreactor improve the survival time of fulminant hepatic failure pigs

Bioartificial liver (BAL) support system has been proposed as potential treatment method for end-stage liver diseases. We described an improved BAL system based on a choanoid fluidized bed bioreactor containing alginate-chitosan encapsulated primary porcine hepatocytes. The feasibility, safety, and efficiency of this device were estimated using an allogeneic fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) model. FHF was induced with intravenous administration of D-galactosamine. Thirty FHF pigs were divided into three groups: (1) an FHF group which was only given intensive care; (2) a sham BAL group which was treated with the BAL system with empty encapsulation, and (3) a BAL group which was treated with the BAL system containing encapsulated freshly isolated primary porcine hepatocytes. The survival times and biochemical parameters of these animals were measured, and properties of the encapsulations and hepatocytes before and after perfusion were also evaluated. Compared to the two control groups, the BAL-treated group had prolonged the survival time and decreased the blood lactate levels, blood glucose, and amino acids remained stable. No obvious ruptured beads or statistical decline in viability or function of encapsulated hepatocytes were observed. This new fluidized bed BAL system is safe and efficient. It may represent a feasible alternative in the treatment of liver failure.     

A spectrophotometric method to monitor the catalytic activity of microsomal cytochrome P-450 IIB1/2: comparison with fluorometric assay

A simple spectrophotometric method to monitor the catalytic activity of microsomal cytochrome P-450 IIB1/2 has been developed. The method employs measurement of utilization of NADPH, consumption of the substrate, pentoxyresorufin (PRF) and formation of the product, resorufin (RF) in the same reaction mixture containing hepatic microsomes from phenobarbital treated rats. The velocity of NADPH utilization (16.36 nmole/min/nmole P-450), PRF consumption (1.58 nmole/min/nmole P-450) and RF formation (1.57 nmole/min/nmole P-450) suggested a stoichiometry of 1:1 between the substrate and the product alongwith utilization of 10 molecules of NADPH. However, the Km for the enzyme activity (nmole RF formed/min/nmole P-450) using varying concentrations of PRF and NADPH as substrates were found to be 11.6 and 20.2 microM, respectively. The spectrophotometric method was compared with fluorometric method in terms of linearity with time, P-450 content and Vmax, Km values observed for the reaction. Inhibition studies with metyrapone and SKF 525A in the utilization of NADPH, consumption of PRF and formation of RF suggested that the method could be useful in monitoring the effect of various inhibitors on the P-450 IIB1/2 reaction.     

Hollow fiber bioartificial liver utilizing collagen-entrapped porcine hepatocyte spheroids

A xenogeneic hollow fiber bioreactor utilizing collagen-entrapped dispersed hepatocytes has been developed as an extracorporeal bioartificial liver (BAL) for potential treatment of acute human fulminant hepatitis. Prolonged viability, enhanced liver-specific functions, and differentiated state have been observed in primary porcine hepatocytes cultivated as spheroids compared to dispersed hepatocytes plated on a monolayer. Entrapment of spheroids into the BAL can potentially improve performance over the existing device. Therefore, studies were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing spheroids as the functionally active component of our hybrid device. Confocal microscopy indicated high viability of spheroids entrapped into cylindrical collagen gel. Entrapment of spheroids alone into collagen gel showed reduced ability to contract collagen gel. By mixing spheroids with dispersed cells, the extent of collagen gel contraction was increased. Hepatocyte spheroids collagen-entrapped into BAL devices were maintained for over 9 days. Assessment of albumin synthesis and ureagenesis within a spheroid-entrapment BAL indicated higher or at least as high activity on a per-cell basis compared to a dispersed hepatocyte-entrapment BAL device. Clearance of 4-methylumbelliferone to its glucuronide was detected throughout the culture period as a marker of phase II conjugation activity. A spheroid-entrapment bioartificial liver warrants further studies for potential human therapy. (c) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Improved survival of porcine acute liver failure by a bioartificial liver device implanted with induced human functional hepatocytes

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a life-threatening illness. The extracorporeal cell-based bioartificial liver (BAL) system could bridge liver transplantation and facilitate liver regeneration for ALF patients by providing metabolic detoxification and synthetic functions. Previous BAL systems, based on hepatoma cells and non-human hepatocytes, achieved limited clinical advances, largely due to poor hepatic functions, cumbersome preparation or safety concerns of these cells. We previously generated human functional hepatocytes by lineage conversion (hiHeps). Here, by improving functional maturity of hiHeps and producing hiHeps at clinical scales (3 billion cells), we developed a hiHep-based BAL system (hiHep-BAL). In a porcine ALF model, hiHep-BAL treatment restored liver functions, corrected blood levels of ammonia and bilirubin, and prolonged survival. Importantly, human albumin and α-1-antitrypsin were detectable in hiHep-BAL-treated ALF pigs. Moreover, hiHep-BAL treatment led to attenuated liver damage, resolved inflammation and enhanced liver regeneration. Our findings indicate a promising clinical application of the hiHep-BAL system.     

Reference cardiopulmonary values in normal dogs

The purpose of this project was to collate canine cardiopulmonary measurements from published and unpublished studies in our laboratory in 97 instrumented, unsedated, normovolemic dogs. Body weight; arterial and mixed-venous pH and blood gases; mean arterial, pulmonary arterial, pulmonary artery occlusion, and central venous blood pressures; cardiac output; heart rate; hemoglobin; and core temperature were measured. Body surface area; bicarbonate concentration; base deficit; cardiac index; stroke volume index, systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance indices; left and right cardiac work indices; alveolar partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) ; alveolar-arterial pO2 gradient (A-apO2); arterial, mixed-venous, and pulmonary capillary oxygen content; oxygen delivery; oxygen consumption; oxygen extraction; venous admixture; arterial and mixed-venous blood CO2 contents; and CO2 production were calculated. In the 97 normal, resting dogs, mean arterial and mixed-venous pH were 7.38 and 7.36, respectively; partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2), 40.2 and 44.1 mm Hg, respectively; base-deficit, -2.1 and -1.9 mEq/liter, respectively; pO2, 99.5 and 49.3 mm Hg, respectively; oxygen content, 17.8 and 14.2 ml/dl, respectively; A-a pO2 was 6.3 mm Hg; and venous admixture was 3.6%. The mean arterial blood pressure (ABPm), mean pulmonary arterial blood pressure (PAPm), pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) were 103, 14, and 5.5 mm Hg, respectively; heart rate was 87 beats/min; cardiac index (CI) was 4.42 liters/min/m2; systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances were 1931 and 194 dynes.sec.cm-5, respectively; oxygen delivery, consumption and extraction were 790 and 164 ml/min/m2 and 20.5%, respectively. This study represents a collation of cardiopulmonary values obtained from a large number of dogs (97) from a single laboratory using the same measurement techniques.     

The effect of oxygen and vitamin E on the lifespan of human diploid cells in vitro

Human diploid cells (WI-38) were serially subcultivated at partial pressures of oxygen (Po2) ranging from 5.6 mm Hg to 608 mm Hg. At a Po2 of 5.6 mm Hg, the number of doublings to phase out was less than that of control cells at a Po2 of 137 mm Hg. Cultures grown at Po2's of 24, 49, or 137 mm Hg grew at the same rate and phased out after a similar number of population doublings. Population lifespan was markedly shortened by chronic exposure to elevated Po2's, a phenomenon that was, in part, reversible. d-1-alpha-Tocopherol (10 microgram/ml or 100 microgram/ml) homogenized into the medium at each weekly subcultivation did not extend the lifespan of cells at reduced, ambient, or elevated oxygen tensions. These results indicate that neither oxygen toxicity nor free radical reactions play a significant role in limiting the lifespan of WI-38 cells grown in vitro under ambient oxygen tensions (Po2 137 mm Hg).     

Effect of low temperature preservation and cell density on metabolic function in a bioartificial liver

Difficulties associated with bioartificial liver (BAL) preservation limit not only the commercialization of BAL, but also its clinical trials. In this study, the possibility of cold preservation of BAL cartridges containing porcine hepatocytes was examined at 4 °C. In anin vitro perfusion culture system, BAL cartridges maintained cytochrome P450 metabolic function for at least 50 days. However, all BAL cartridges completely lost their ammonia eliminating ability when stored at 4 °C. We also studied the effect of cell density on the maintenance of BAL liver function in a highly differentiated and healthy state. As expected, BALs containing a larger number of hepatocytes demonstrated higher metabolic functions. When metabolic functions were compared per gram of hepatocytes, no large differences were observed between devices containing different densities of hepatocytes. Decreased cell density did not successfully prolong BAL function. The viability and function of isolated hepatocytes highly depend on the culture conditions, such as cell density, substrata, culture media, and additives to the culture media. Perfusion culture of BAL cartridges at 4°C gave a promosing result with respect to the maintenance of P450 activity. However, as indicated by the rapid loss of ammonia metabolic activity, many factors still remain to be optimized for preservation of BAL keeping high metabolic functions for a longer time.