Report on Liver Cell Transplantation Using Human Fetal Liver Cells

Methods Mol Biol. 2017:1506:283-294. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6506-9_20.

Abstract

In an era of organ shortage, human fetuses donated after medically indicated abortion could be considered a potential liver donor for hepatic cell isolation. We investigated transplantation of fetal liver cells as a strategy to support liver functionality in end-stage liver disease. Here, we report our protocol of human fetal liver cells (hFLC) isolation in fetuses from 17 to 22 gestational weeks, and our clinical procedure of hFLC transplantation through the splenic artery.

Keywords: Chronic liver disease; Collagenase perfusion; Fetal liver; Fetal stem cell transplantation; Liver cell transplantation; Liver progenitors; Liver stem cell isolation.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Separation / instrumentation
  • Cell Separation / methods*
  • Cell Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Cell Transplantation / ethics
  • Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Cell Transplantation / standards
  • End Stage Liver Disease / therapy*
  • Female
  • Fetal Tissue Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Fetal Tissue Transplantation / ethics
  • Fetal Tissue Transplantation / methods*
  • Fetal Tissue Transplantation / standards
  • Fetus / cytology*
  • Graft Rejection / prevention & control
  • Hepatocytes / immunology
  • Hepatocytes / microbiology
  • Hepatocytes / transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / methods
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Liver / cytology
  • Perfusion / instrumentation
  • Perfusion / methods
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Pregnancy
  • Quality Control
  • Splenic Artery / surgery
  • Tacrolimus / therapeutic use
  • Tissue Donors
  • Tissue and Organ Harvesting / ethics
  • Tissue and Organ Harvesting / methods
  • Tissue and Organ Harvesting / standards

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Tacrolimus