Coencapsulation of hepatocytes and bone marrow stem cells: in vitro conversion of ammonia and in vivo lowering of bilirubin in hyperbilirubemia Gunn rats.

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: This study investigates the ammonia removal capacity of coencapsulated hepatocytes and bone marrow stem cells in culture, and the treatment effect on hyperbilirubinemia Gunn rats when transplanted.
METHODS: The hepatocytes and bone marrow stem cells isolated from Wistar rats were encapsulated alone or coencapsulated. In vitro, the encapsulated cells were cultured in media supplemented with 2.4 mMol/L concentration of ammonium chloride and the ammonia removal and urea synthesis were evaluated. In vivo, the encapsulated cells were transplanted intraperitoneally into hyperbilirubinemia Gunn rats and plasma bilirubin levels were measured before and after transplantation at intervals of 85 days.
RESULTS: The ammonia removal capacity was maintained longer in the different ammonia concentration media in the coencapsulated hepatocytes and bone marrow cells culture. In the coencapsulation transplantation group, the plasma bilirubin levels were significantly lower than those in the group of hepatocytes encapsulation transplantation during the period of 3 to 10 weeks posttransplantion.
CONCLUSIONS: The coencapsulated heaptocytes and bone marrow cells when compared to encapsulated hepatocytes could improve the maintenance of hepatocyte function both in vitro of ammonia removal in culture, and in vivo of the lowering the Gunn rats blood total bilirubin when transplanted.