Artificial Cells Containing Stem Cells for Liver Failure.

Introduction In some regions of the world viral hepatitis is a common disease that can be severe enough to result in severe decrease in liver function and death. Liver transplantation is an effective treatment. However, it involves major surgery and it also depends on the very limited availability of donor livers. The same can also be said for extensive liver resection for metastatic cancer or severe hepatic injury. The liver is an organ that can regenerate itself, given the required time and conditions. Thus, one area of research in our laboratory focuses on the use of biocompatible polymeric artificial cells containing hepatocytes and/ or bone marrow stem cells for liver regeneration.1,2 Our aim is to study whether this can allow the liver to regenerate and recover. We have shown that artificial cells containing hepatocytes can support liver function and allow recovery of rats with 90% of their liver removed. We also have shown that artificial cells can prevent immunorejection of incompatible hepatocyes without the need for immunosuppressant. However, the supply of human hepatocytes is very limited. Artificial cells can prevent immunorejection of animal hepatocytes. However, one of the functions of the hepatocytes is the synthesis of molecules like albumin and others. These foreign proteins can lead to immunological by Professor Thomas Ming Swi Chang, OC, MD, CM, PhD, FRCPC, FRS(C), Artificial Cells Containing Stem Cells for Liver Failure