Three different hepatocyte transplantation techniques for enzyme deficiency disease and acute hepatic failure.

The effects of three different techniques of hepatocyte transplantation were investigated: transplantation of free hepatocytes into the spleen and intraperitoneal transplantation of microcarrier-attached hepatocytes or of microencapsulated hepatocytes. The liver-supportive functions of these transplanted hepatocytes were analyzed using either the Gunn rat (hyperbilirubinemia) or rats with acute liver failure. In the Gunn rat intraperitoneal transplantation of microcarrier-attached hepatocytes resulted in a significant reduction of plasma bilirubin for 28 days whereas intraperitoneal transplantation of microencapsulated hepatocytes was ineffective notwithstanding immunosuppression by cyclosporin A. Intrasplenic hepatocyte transplantation was only effective in reducing plasma bilirubin for 14 days. During acute liver failure, liver support was achieved temporarily by hepatocyte transplantation in the spleen, by intraperitoneally transplanted microcarrier-attached hepatocytes, and by microencapsulated hepatocytes to equal extents, the microencapsulated hepatocytes being the least effective after 8 h of liver ischemia.