Effects of Plasma from Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure Patients on Immortalized Human Hepatocytes in vitro

Background/Aims: The efficiency of bioartificial liver or cell transplantation for the treatment of liver failure may potentially be diminished by toxic agents accumulated in the patients' blood. We investigated the effects of plasma from patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure on the structure and function of immortalized human hepatocytes (HepLL) in vitro. Methodology: Plasma was pooled from 8 patients with acute or chronic liver failure. We utilized Transmission Electron Microscopy to observe the ultrastructure of HepLL cells and the activity of proliferation was examined by MTT assay. The percentage of apoptosis cells was measured through Annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection kit. The capacity for detoxification was analyzed using an ammonia elimination assay. Results: HepLL cells continue to proliferate, even when exposed to plasma derived from patients with 100% liver failure. No significant apoptosis was measured within 48h. The capacity for ammonia elimination was not statistically decreased until 36h incubation with liver failure plasma. Conclusions: Although the toxic effects of plasma from acute-on-chronic liver failure patients should not be ignored, HepLL cells can maintain their function, when exposed to AoCLF plasma, for at least 24h and could be used as a suitable cell source for a bioartificial liver support system.