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Broere R, Luijmes SH, de Jonge J, Porte RJ. Graft repair during machine perfusion: a current overview of strategies. Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2024; 29:248-254. [PMID: 38726753 PMCID: PMC11224572 DOI: 10.1097/mot.0000000000001151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW With changing donor characteristics (advanced age, obesity), an increase in the use of extended criteria donor (ECD) livers in liver transplantation is seen. Machine perfusion allows graft viability assessment, but still many donor livers are considered nontransplantable. Besides being used as graft viability assessment tool, ex situ machine perfusion offers a platform for therapeutic strategies to ameliorate grafts prior to transplantation. This review describes the current landscape of graft repair during machine perfusion. RECENT FINDINGS Explored anti-inflammatory therapies, including inflammasome inhibitors, hemoabsorption, and cellular therapies mitigate the inflammatory response and improve hepatic function. Cholangiocyte organoids show promise in repairing the damaged biliary tree. Defatting during normothermic machine perfusion shows a reduction of steatosis and improved hepatobiliary function compared to nontreated livers. Uptake of RNA interference therapies during machine perfusion paves the way for an additional treatment modality. SUMMARY The possibility to repair injured donor livers during ex situ machine perfusion might increase the utilization of ECD-livers. Application of defatting agents is currently explored in clinical trials, whereas other therapeutics require further research or optimization before entering clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Broere
- Department of Surgery, Division of Hepato-Pancreato- Biliary and Transplant Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Wehrle CJ, Jiao C, Sun K, Zhang M, Fairchild RL, Miller C, Hashimoto K, Schlegel A. Machine perfusion in liver transplantation: recent advances and coming challenges. Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2024; 29:228-238. [PMID: 38726745 DOI: 10.1097/mot.0000000000001150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Machine perfusion has been adopted into clinical practice in Europe since the mid-2010s and, more recently, in the United States (US) following approval of normothermic machine perfusion (NMP). We aim to review recent advances, provide discussion of potential future directions, and summarize challenges currently facing the field. RECENT FINDINGS Both NMP and hypothermic-oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) improve overall outcomes after liver transplantation versus traditional static cold storage (SCS) and offer improved logistical flexibility. HOPE offers additional protection to the biliary system stemming from its' protection of mitochondria and lessening of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) is touted to offer similar protective effects on the biliary system, though this has not been studied prospectively.The most critical question remaining is the optimal use cases for each of the three techniques (NMP, HOPE, and NRP), particularly as HOPE and NRP become more available in the US. There are additional questions regarding the most effective criteria for viability assessment and the true economic impact of these techniques. Finally, with each technique purported to allow well tolerated use of riskier grafts, there is an urgent need to define terminology for graft risk, as baseline population differences make comparison of current data challenging. SUMMARY Machine perfusion is now widely available in all western countries and has become an essential tool in liver transplantation. Identification of the ideal technique for each graft, optimization of viability assessment, cost-effectiveness analyses, and proper definition of graft risk are the next steps to maximizing the utility of these powerful tools.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chunbao Jiao
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Keyue Sun
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Mingyi Zhang
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Robert L Fairchild
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Koji Hashimoto
- Transplantation Center, Cleveland Clinic
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Andrea Schlegel
- Transplantation Center, Cleveland Clinic
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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3
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Coilly A, Desterke C, Kaščáková S, Chiappini F, Samuel D, Vibert E, Guettier C, Le Naour F. Clinical application of infrared spectroscopy in liver transplantation for rapid assessment of lipid content in liver graft. J Transl Med 2024:102110. [PMID: 39004345 DOI: 10.1016/j.labinv.2024.102110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation (LT) is a major treatment for patients with end-stage liver diseases. Steatosis is a significant risk factor for primary graft non-function and is associated with poor long-term graft outcomes. Traditionally, the evaluation of steatosis is based on frozen section examination to estimate the percentage of hepatocytes containing lipid vesicles. However, this visual evaluation correlates poorly with the true lipid content. This study aimed to address the potential of infrared (IR) microspectroscopy for rapidly estimating lipid content in the context of LT and assessing its impact on survival. Clinical data were collected over 20 months from 58 patients who underwent transplantation. For each liver graft, macrovacuolar and microvesicular steatosis were evaluated through histological examination on frozen tissue section. Triglycerides (TG) were further quantified using gas-phase chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) as well as estimated by IR microspectroscopy. A linear relationship and significant correlation were observed between the TG measured by GC-FID and those estimated by IR microspectroscopy (R2 = 0.86). In some cases, microvesicular steatosis was related to high lipid content despite low levels of macrovacuolar steatosis. Seven patients experienced post-transplantation liver failure, including 5 deceased patients. All patients underwent transplantation with grafts containing significantly high TG levels. A concentration of 250 nmol/mg was identified as the threshold above which the risk of failure after LT significantly increased, affecting 35% of patients. Our study established a strong correlation between LT outcomes and lipid content. IR microspectroscopy proved to be a rapid and reliable approach for assessing the lipid content in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Coilly
- Inserm, Unité 1193, Villejuif, F-94800, France; Université Paris Saclay, Institut André Lwoff, Villejuif, F-94800, France; AP-HP Hôpital Paul Brousse, Centre Hépatobiliaire, Villejuif, F-94800, France
| | - Christophe Desterke
- Université Paris Saclay, Institut André Lwoff, Villejuif, F-94800, France; Inserm, US33, Villejuif, F-94800, France
| | - Slávka Kaščáková
- Inserm, Unité 1193, Villejuif, F-94800, France; Université Paris Saclay, Institut André Lwoff, Villejuif, F-94800, France
| | - Franck Chiappini
- Inserm, Unité 1193, Villejuif, F-94800, France; Université Paris Saclay, Institut André Lwoff, Villejuif, F-94800, France
| | - Didier Samuel
- Inserm, Unité 1193, Villejuif, F-94800, France; Université Paris Saclay, Institut André Lwoff, Villejuif, F-94800, France; AP-HP Hôpital Paul Brousse, Centre Hépatobiliaire, Villejuif, F-94800, France
| | - Eric Vibert
- Inserm, Unité 1193, Villejuif, F-94800, France; Université Paris Saclay, Institut André Lwoff, Villejuif, F-94800, France; AP-HP Hôpital Paul Brousse, Centre Hépatobiliaire, Villejuif, F-94800, France
| | - Catherine Guettier
- Inserm, Unité 1193, Villejuif, F-94800, France; Université Paris Saclay, Institut André Lwoff, Villejuif, F-94800, France; AP-HP Hôpital Bicêtre, Service d'Anatomopathologie, Kremlin-Bicêtre, F-94270 France.
| | - François Le Naour
- Inserm, Unité 1193, Villejuif, F-94800, France; Université Paris Saclay, Institut André Lwoff, Villejuif, F-94800, France; Inserm, US33, Villejuif, F-94800, France.
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4
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Abbas SH, Ceresa CDL, Hodson L, Nasralla D, Watson CJE, Mergental H, Coussios C, Kaloyirou F, Brusby K, Mora A, Thomas H, Kounali D, Keen K, Pollok JM, Gaurav R, Iype S, Jassem W, Perera MTP, Hakeem AR, Knight S, Friend PJ. Defatting of donor transplant livers during normothermic perfusion-a randomised clinical trial: study protocol for the DeFat study. Trials 2024; 25:386. [PMID: 38886851 PMCID: PMC11181618 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-024-08189-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver disease is the third leading cause of premature death in the UK. Transplantation is the only successful treatment for end-stage liver disease but is limited by a shortage of suitable donor organs. As a result, up to 20% of patients on liver transplant waiting lists die before receiving a transplant. A third of donated livers are not suitable for transplant, often due to steatosis. Hepatic steatosis, which affects 33% of the UK population, is strongly associated with obesity, an increasing problem in the potential donor pool. We have recently tested defatting interventions during normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) in discarded steatotic human livers that were not transplanted. A combination of therapies including forskolin (NKH477) and L-carnitine to defat liver cells and lipoprotein apheresis filtration were investigated. These interventions resulted in functional improvement during perfusion and reduced the intrahepatocellular triglyceride (IHTG) content. We hypothesise that defatting during NMP will allow more steatotic livers to be transplanted with improved outcomes. METHODS In the proposed multi-centre clinical trial, we will randomly assign 60 livers from donors with a high-risk of hepatic steatosis to either NMP alone or NMP with defatting interventions. We aim to test the safety and feasibility of the defatting intervention and will explore efficacy by comparing ex-situ and post-reperfusion liver function between the groups. The primary endpoint will be the proportion of livers that achieve predefined functional criteria during perfusion which indicate potential suitability for transplantation. These criteria reflect hepatic metabolism and injury and include lactate clearance, perfusate pH, glucose metabolism, bile composition, vascular flows and transaminase levels. Clinical secondary endpoints will include proportion of livers transplanted in the two arms, graft function; cell-free DNA (cfDNA) at follow-up visits; patient and graft survival; hospital and ITU stay; evidence of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI); non-anastomotic biliary strictures and recurrence of steatosis (determined on MRI at 6 months). DISCUSSION This study explores ex-situ pharmacological optimisation of steatotic donor livers during NMP. If the intervention proves effective, it will allow the safe transplantation of livers that are currently very likely to be discarded, thereby reducing waiting list deaths. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN ISRCTN14957538. Registered in October 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Hussain Abbas
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, The Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK.
| | - Carlo D L Ceresa
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, The Royal Free Hospital, Pond St, Hampstead, London, NW3 2QG, UK
| | - Leanne Hodson
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Oxford, The Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK
| | - David Nasralla
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, The Royal Free Hospital, Pond St, Hampstead, London, NW3 2QG, UK
| | - Christopher J E Watson
- Department of Surgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, University of Cambridge, Box 202, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK
| | - Hynek Mergental
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham, B15 2TH, UK
- TransMedics Inc, 200 Minuteman Road, Andover, MA, 01810, USA
| | - Constantin Coussios
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Old Road Campus Research Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK
| | | | | | - Ana Mora
- Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0BB, UK
| | - Helen Thomas
- NHS Blood and Transplant Clinical Trials Unit, Fox Den Road, Stoke Gifford, Bristol, BS34 8RR, UK
| | - Daphne Kounali
- Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit (OCTRU), Centre for Statistics in Medicine (CSM), Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), Medical Sciences Division, The Botnar Research Centre, University of Oxford, Windmill Road, Oxford, OX3 7LD, UK
| | - Katie Keen
- NHSBT CTU, Long Road, Cambridge, CB2 0PT, UK
| | - Joerg-Matthias Pollok
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, The Royal Free Hospital, Pond St, Hampstead, London, NW3 2QG, UK
| | - Rohit Gaurav
- Department of Surgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, University of Cambridge, Box 202, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK
| | - Satheesh Iype
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, The Royal Free Hospital, Pond St, Hampstead, London, NW3 2QG, UK
| | - Wayel Jassem
- Kings College Hospital, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK
| | - M Thamara Pr Perera
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham, B15 2TH, UK
| | - Abdul Rahman Hakeem
- Kings College Hospital, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK
- St James's University Hospital, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF, UK
| | - Simon Knight
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, The Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK
| | - Peter J Friend
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, The Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK
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5
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Lindemann J, Yu J, Doyle MM. Normothermic machine perfusion for liver transplantation: current state and future directions. Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2024; 29:186-194. [PMID: 38483109 DOI: 10.1097/mot.0000000000001141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The number of patients on the liver transplant waitlist continues to grow and far exceeds the number of livers available for transplantation. Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) allows for ex-vivo perfusion under physiologic conditions with the potential to significantly increase organ yield and expand the donor pool. RECENT FINDINGS Several studies have found increased utilization of donation after cardiac death and extended criteria brain-dead donor livers with implementation of NMP, largely due to the ability to perform viability testing during machine perfusion. Recently, proposed viability criteria include lactate clearance, maintenance of perfusate pH more than 7.2, ALT less than 6000 u/l, evidence of glucose metabolism and bile production. Optimization of liver grafts during NMP is an active area of research and includes interventions for defatting steatotic livers, preventing ischemic cholangiopathy and rejection, and minimizing ischemia reperfusion injury. SUMMARY NMP has resulted in increased organ utilization from marginal donors with acceptable outcomes. The added flexibility of prolonged organ storage times has the potential to improve time constraints and transplant logistics. Further research to determine ideal viability criteria and investigate ways to optimize marginal and otherwise nontransplantable liver grafts during NMP is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Lindemann
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Organ Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
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6
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Bonaccorsi-Riani E, Ghinolfi D, Czigany Z, Dondossola D, Emamaullee J, Yuksel M, Boteon YL, Al-Adra D, Ho CM, Abdelrahim M, Pang L, Barbas A, Meier R, MacParland S, Sayed BA, Pavan-Guimaraes J, Brüggenwirth IMA, Zarrinpar A, Mas VR, Selzner M, Martins PN, Bhat M. What Is Hot and New in Basic and Translational Science in Liver Transplantation in 2023? Report of the Basic and Translational Research Committee of the International Liver Transplantation Society. Transplantation 2024; 108:1043-1052. [PMID: 38494468 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The 2023 Joint Annual Congress of the International Liver Transplantation Society, European Liver and Intestine Transplant Association, and Liver Intensive Care Group of Europe were held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from May 3 to 6, 2023. This year, all speakers were invited to attend the Congress in person for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. The congress was attended by 1159 registered delegates from 54 countries representing 5 continents, with the 10 countries comprising the bulk of the delegates. Of the 647 abstracts initially submitted, 542 were eventually presented at the meeting, coming from 38 countries (mainly North America, Europe, and Asia) and 85% of them (462 abstracts) came from only 10 countries. Fifty-three (9.8%) abstracts, originated from 17 countries, were submitted under the Basic/Translational Scientific Research category, a similar percentage as in 2022. Abstracts presented at the meeting were classified as (1) ischemia and reperfusion injury, (2) machine perfusion, (3) bioengineering and liver regeneration, (4) transplant oncology, (5) novel biomarkers in liver transplantation, (6) liver immunology (rejection and tolerance), and (7) artificial intelligence and machine learning. Finally, we evaluated the number of abstracts commented in the Basic and Translational Research Committee-International Liver Transplantation Society annual reports over the past 5 y that resulted in publications in peer-reviewed journals to measure their scientific impact in the field of liver transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliano Bonaccorsi-Riani
- Abdominal Transplant Unit, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Pôle de Chirurgie Expérimentale et Transplantation-Institute de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Davide Ghinolfi
- Division of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Zoltan Czigany
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Medical Faculty Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniele Dondossola
- General and Liver Transplant Surgery Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi, Milan, Italy
| | - Juliet Emamaullee
- Department of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Muhammed Yuksel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yuri L Boteon
- Transplant Centre, Hospital São Luiz Itaim, Rede D'OR, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - David Al-Adra
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Cheng-Maw Ho
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Maen Abdelrahim
- Section of GI Medical Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, Houston Methodist Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Li Pang
- Organ Transplantation Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Andrew Barbas
- Division of Abdominal Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Raphael Meier
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Sonya MacParland
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Blayne Amir Sayed
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Juliana Pavan-Guimaraes
- Department of Surgery, Transplant Division, UMass Memorial Hospital, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA
| | | | - Ali Zarrinpar
- Division of Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Valeria R Mas
- Surgical Sciences Division, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Markus Selzner
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Paulo N Martins
- Department of Surgery, Transplant Division, UMass Memorial Hospital, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA
| | - Mamatha Bhat
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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7
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Abbas SH, Ceresa CDL, Pollok JM. Steatotic Donor Transplant Livers: Preservation Strategies to Mitigate against Ischaemia-Reperfusion Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4648. [PMID: 38731866 PMCID: PMC11083584 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation (LT) is the only definitive treatment for end-stage liver disease, yet the UK has seen a 400% increase in liver disease-related deaths since 1970, constrained further by a critical shortage of donor organs. This shortfall has necessitated the use of extended criteria donor organs, including those with evidence of steatosis. The impact of hepatic steatosis (HS) on graft viability remains a concern, particularly for donor livers with moderate to severe steatosis which are highly sensitive to the process of ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and static cold storage (SCS) leading to poor post-transplantation outcomes. This review explores the pathophysiological predisposition of steatotic livers to IRI, the limitations of SCS, and alternative preservation strategies, including novel organ preservation solutions (OPS) and normothermic machine perfusion (NMP), to mitigate IRI and improve outcomes for steatotic donor livers. By addressing these challenges, the liver transplant community can enhance the utilisation of steatotic donor livers which is crucial in the context of the global obesity crisis and the growing need to expand the donor pool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Hussain Abbas
- Oxford Transplant Centre, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK;
| | - Carlo Domenico Lorenzo Ceresa
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Liver Transplant Surgery, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, Hampstead, London NW3 2QG, UK;
| | - Joerg-Matthias Pollok
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Liver Transplant Surgery, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, Hampstead, London NW3 2QG, UK;
- Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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8
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Akabane M, Imaoka Y, Esquivel CO, Melcher ML, Kwong A, Sasaki K. Overcoming the hurdles of steatotic grafts in liver transplantation: Insights into survival and prognostic factors. Liver Transpl 2024; 30:376-385. [PMID: 37616509 DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
With increasing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, the use of steatotic grafts in liver transplantation (LT) and their impact on postoperative graft survival (GS) needs further exploration. Analyzing adult LT recipient data (2002-2022) from the United Network for Organ Sharing database, outcomes of LT using steatotic (≥30% macrosteatosis) and nonsteatotic donor livers, donors after circulatory death, and standard-risk older donors (age 45-50) were compared. GS predictors were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Of the 35,345 LT donors, 8.9% (3,155) were fatty livers. The initial 30-day postoperative period revealed significant challenges with fatty livers, demonstrating inferior GS. However, the GS discrepancy between fatty and nonfatty livers subsided over time ( p = 0.10 at 5 y). Long-term GS outcomes showed comparable or even superior results in fatty livers relative to nonsteatotic livers, conditional on surviving the initial 90 postoperative days ( p = 0.90 at 1 y) or 1 year ( p = 0.03 at 5 y). In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, the high body surface area (BSA) ratio (≥1.1) (HR 1.42, p = 0.02), calculated as donor BSA divided by recipient BSA, long cold ischemic time (≥6.5 h) (HR 1.72, p < 0.01), and recipient medical condition (intensive care unit hospitalization) (HR 2.53, p < 0.01) emerged as significant adverse prognostic factors. Young (<40 y) fatty donors showed a high BSA ratio, diabetes, and intensive care unit hospitalization as significant indicators of a worse prognosis ( p < 0.01). Our study emphasizes the initial postoperative 30-day survival challenge in LT using fatty livers. However, with careful donor-recipient matching, for example, avoiding the use of steatotic donors with long cold ischemic time and high BSA ratios for recipients in the intensive care unit, it is possible to enhance immediate GS, and in a longer time, outcomes comparable to those using nonfatty livers, donors after circulatory death livers, or standard-risk older donors can be anticipated. These novel insights into decision-making criteria for steatotic liver use provide invaluable guidance for clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miho Akabane
- Department of Surgery, Division of Abdominal Transplant, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Yuki Imaoka
- Department of Surgery, Division of Abdominal Transplant, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Carlos O Esquivel
- Department of Surgery, Division of Abdominal Transplant, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Marc L Melcher
- Department of Surgery, Division of Abdominal Transplant, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Allison Kwong
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Kazunari Sasaki
- Department of Surgery, Division of Abdominal Transplant, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California, USA
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9
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Feng S, Roll GR, Rouhani FJ, Sanchez Fueyo A. The future of liver transplantation. Hepatology 2024:01515467-990000000-00817. [PMID: 38537154 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Over the last 50 years, liver transplantation has evolved into a procedure routinely performed in many countries worldwide. Those able to access this therapy frequently experience a miraculous risk-benefit ratio, particularly if they face the imminently life-threatening disease. Over the decades, the success of liver transplantation, with dramatic improvements in early posttransplant survival, has aggressively driven demand. However, despite the emergence of living donors to augment deceased donors as a source of organs, supply has lagged far behind demand. As a result, rationing has been an unfortunate focus in recent decades. Recent shifts in the epidemiology of liver disease combined with transformative innovations in liver preservation suggest that the underlying premise of organ shortage may erode in the foreseeable future. The focus will sharpen on improving equitable access while mitigating constraints related to workforce training, infrastructure for organ recovery and rehabilitation, and their associated costs. Research efforts in liver preservation will undoubtedly blossom with the aim of optimizing both the timing and conditions of transplantation. Coupled with advances in genetic engineering, regenerative biology, and cellular therapies, the portfolio of innovation, both broad and deep, offers the promise that, in the future, liver transplantation will not only be broadly available to those in need but also represent a highly durable life-saving therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandy Feng
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Garrett R Roll
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Foad J Rouhani
- Tissue Regeneration and Clonal Evolution Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College London, King's College Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Alberto Sanchez Fueyo
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College London, King's College Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Watson CJ, Gaurav R, Butler AJ. Current Techniques and Indications for Machine Perfusion and Regional Perfusion in Deceased Donor Liver Transplantation. J Clin Exp Hepatol 2024; 14:101309. [PMID: 38274508 PMCID: PMC10806097 DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2023.101309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the advent of University of Wisconsin preservation solution in the 1980s, clinicians have learned to work within its confines. While affording improved outcomes, considerable limitations still exist and contribute to the large number of livers that go unused each year, often for fear they may never work. The last 10 years have seen the widespread availability of new perfusion modalities which provide an opportunity for assessing organ viability and prolonged organ storage. This review will discuss the role of in situ normothermic regional perfusion for livers donated after circulatory death. It will also describe the different modalities of ex situ perfusion, both normothermic and hypothermic, and discuss how they are thought to work and the opportunities afforded by them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J.E. Watson
- University of Cambridge Department of Surgery, Box 210, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK
- The Roy Calne Transplant Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK
| | - Rohit Gaurav
- The Roy Calne Transplant Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK
| | - Andrew J. Butler
- University of Cambridge Department of Surgery, Box 210, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK
- The Roy Calne Transplant Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK
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11
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Li S, Zhi Y, Mu W, Li M, Lv G. Exploring the effects of epigallocatechin gallate on lipid metabolism in the rat steatotic liver during normothermic machine perfusion: Insights from lipidomics and RNA sequencing. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 964:176300. [PMID: 38141939 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatic steatosis is the leading cause of discarded liver grafts. Defatting steatotic liver grafts using drug combinations during ex vivo normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) has been reported. However, the effectiveness of NMP in reducing fat content using epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) as a single defatting agent and its effect on lipid metabolism are poorly investigated. METHODS In this study, an NMP system was set up to perfuse a steatotic liver from a rat model with 10 mM EGCG. Livers without EGCG served as NMP controls, whereas static cold-preserved livers in the University of Wisconsin medium were used as static cold storage controls. Liver enzyme, reactive oxygen species (ROS), histology, and lipid content assessments were conducted post-perfusion, complemented by lipidomics, RNA sequencing, and western blotting to determine the lipid metabolism changes. RESULTS EGCG during NMP reduced hepatocellular injury markers and defatted steatotic liver grafts. Additionally, we observed a significant increase in triglyceride (TG) content in the perfusate post-NMP in the NMP + EGCG group, suggesting TG output from the liver. Furthermore, lipidomics analysis revealed that EGCG primarily affected metabolites involved in glycerophospholipid (GP) and glycerolipid (GL) metabolism. Further, the RNA sequencing indicated the modulation of these metabolic pathways via ECGC, which was associated with the downregulated Lpin1 and Gpat3 expression. CONCLUSIONS EGCG defats steatotic livers as a single defatting agent during NMP by promoting GL and GP metabolism via decreasing Lpin1 and Agpat9 levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuxuan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery I, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Yao Zhi
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery I, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Wentao Mu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery I, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Mingqian Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery I, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
| | - Guoyue Lv
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery I, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
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12
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Chullo G, Panisello-Rosello A, Marquez N, Colmenero J, Brunet M, Pera M, Rosello-Catafau J, Bataller R, García-Valdecasas JC, Fundora Y. Focusing on Ischemic Reperfusion Injury in the New Era of Dynamic Machine Perfusion in Liver Transplantation. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1117. [PMID: 38256190 PMCID: PMC10816079 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation is the most effective treatment for end-stage liver disease. Transplant indications have been progressively increasing, with a huge discrepancy between the supply and demand of optimal organs. In this context, the use of extended criteria donor grafts has gained importance, even though these grafts are more susceptible to ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI). Hepatic IRI is an inherent and inevitable consequence of all liver transplants; it involves ischemia-mediated cellular damage exacerbated upon reperfusion and its severity directly affects graft function and post-transplant complications. Strategies for organ preservation have been constantly improving since they first emerged. The current gold standard for preservation is perfusion solutions and static cold storage. However, novel approaches that allow extended preservation times, organ evaluation, and their treatment, which could increase the number of viable organs for transplantation, are currently under investigation. This review discusses the mechanisms associated with IRI, describes existing strategies for liver preservation, and emphasizes novel developments and challenges for effective organ preservation and optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Chullo
- Service of Digestive, Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary and Liver Transplant Surgery, Institut Clínic de Malalties Digestives i Metabòliques (ICMDM), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (G.C.); (M.P.); (J.C.G.-V.)
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (J.C.); (M.B.); (R.B.)
| | - Arnau Panisello-Rosello
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (J.C.); (M.B.); (R.B.)
| | - Noel Marquez
- Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary and Liver Transplant Surgery, Institut Clínic de Malalties Digestives i Metabòliques (ICMDM), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Jordi Colmenero
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (J.C.); (M.B.); (R.B.)
- Liver Transplant Unit, Service of Hepatology, Institut Clínic de Malalties Digestives i Metabòliques (ICMDM), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades hepaticas y digestives (CIBERehd), University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Merce Brunet
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (J.C.); (M.B.); (R.B.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades hepaticas y digestives (CIBERehd), University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Department, Biomedical Diagnostic Center, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Pera
- Service of Digestive, Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary and Liver Transplant Surgery, Institut Clínic de Malalties Digestives i Metabòliques (ICMDM), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (G.C.); (M.P.); (J.C.G.-V.)
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (J.C.); (M.B.); (R.B.)
| | - Joan Rosello-Catafau
- Experimental Pathology, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IBB-CSIC), 08036 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Ramon Bataller
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (J.C.); (M.B.); (R.B.)
- Liver Transplant Unit, Service of Hepatology, Institut Clínic de Malalties Digestives i Metabòliques (ICMDM), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades hepaticas y digestives (CIBERehd), University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos García-Valdecasas
- Service of Digestive, Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary and Liver Transplant Surgery, Institut Clínic de Malalties Digestives i Metabòliques (ICMDM), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (G.C.); (M.P.); (J.C.G.-V.)
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (J.C.); (M.B.); (R.B.)
| | - Yiliam Fundora
- Service of Digestive, Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary and Liver Transplant Surgery, Institut Clínic de Malalties Digestives i Metabòliques (ICMDM), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (G.C.); (M.P.); (J.C.G.-V.)
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (J.C.); (M.B.); (R.B.)
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13
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Akabane M, Bekki Y, Imaoka Y, Inaba Y, Kwong AJ, Esquivel CO, Melcher ML, Sasaki K. The short and long-term prognostic influences of liver grafts with high bilirubin levels at the time of organ recovery. Clin Transplant 2024; 38:e15155. [PMID: 37812571 DOI: 10.1111/ctr.15155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Donors with hyperbilirubinemia are often not utilized for liver transplantation (LT) due to concerns about potential liver dysfunction and graft survival. The potential to mitigate organ shortages using such donors remains unclear. METHODS This study analyzed adult deceased donor data from the United Network for Organ Sharing database (2002-2022). Hyperbilirubinemia was categorized as high total bilirubin (3.0-5.0 mg/dL) and very high bilirubin (≥5.0 mg/dL) in brain-dead donors. We assessed the impact of donor hyperbilirubinemia on 3-month and 3-year graft survival, comparing these outcomes to donors after circulatory death (DCD). RESULTS Of 138 622 donors, 3452 (2.5%) had high bilirubin and 1999 (1.4%) had very high bilirubin levels. Utilization rates for normal, high, and very high bilirubin groups were 73.5%, 56.4%, and 29.2%, respectively. No significant differences were found in 3-month and 3-year graft survival between groups. Donors with high bilirubin had superior 3-year graft survival compared to DCD (hazard ratio .83, p = .02). Factors associated with inferior short-term graft survival included recipient medical condition in intensive care unit (ICU) and longer cold ischemic time; factors associated with inferior long-term graft survival included older donor age, recipient medical condition in ICU, older recipient age, and longer cold ischemic time. Donors with ≥10% macrosteatosis in the very high bilirubin group were also associated with worse 3-year graft survival (p = .04). DISCUSSION The study suggests that despite many grafts with hyperbilirubinemia being non-utilized, acceptable post-LT outcomes can be achieved using donors with hyperbilirubinemia. Careful selection may increase utilization and expand the donor pool without negatively affecting graft outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miho Akabane
- Division of Abdominal Transplant, Department of Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Yuki Bekki
- Department of Surgery, Fukuoka City Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yuki Imaoka
- Division of Abdominal Transplant, Department of Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Yosuke Inaba
- Clinical Research Center, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Allison J Kwong
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Carlos O Esquivel
- Division of Abdominal Transplant, Department of Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Marc L Melcher
- Division of Abdominal Transplant, Department of Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Kazunari Sasaki
- Division of Abdominal Transplant, Department of Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California, USA
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14
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López-Martínez S, Simón C, Santamaria X. Normothermic Machine Perfusion Systems: Where Do We Go From Here? Transplantation 2024; 108:22-44. [PMID: 37026713 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) aims to preserve organs ex vivo by simulating physiological conditions such as body temperature. Recent advancements in NMP system design have prompted the development of clinically effective devices for liver, heart, lung, and kidney transplantation that preserve organs for several hours/up to 1 d. In preclinical studies, adjustments to circuit structure, perfusate composition, and automatic supervision have extended perfusion times up to 1 wk of preservation. Emerging NMP platforms for ex vivo preservation of the pancreas, intestine, uterus, ovary, and vascularized composite allografts represent exciting prospects. Thus, NMP may become a valuable tool in transplantation and provide significant advantages to biomedical research. This review recaps recent NMP research, including discussions of devices in clinical trials, innovative preclinical systems for extended preservation, and platforms developed for other organs. We will also discuss NMP strategies using a global approach while focusing on technical specifications and preservation times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara López-Martínez
- Carlos Simon Foundation, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carlos Simón
- Carlos Simon Foundation, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University, Boston, MA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Xavier Santamaria
- Carlos Simon Foundation, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Valencia, Spain
- INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
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15
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Sousa Da Silva RX, Bautista Borrego L, Lenggenhager D, Huwyler F, Binz J, Mancina L, Breuer E, Wernlé K, Hefti M, Mueller M, Cunningham L, De Oliveira ML, Petrowsky H, Weber A, Dutkowski P, Hoffmann W, Gupta A, Tibbitt MW, Humar B, Clavien PA. Defatting of Human Livers During Long-Term e x situ Normothermic Perfusion: Novel Strategy to Rescue Discarded Organs for Transplantation. Ann Surg 2023; 278:669-675. [PMID: 37497663 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000006047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To develop a protocol for the defatting of steatotic liver grafts during long-term ex situ normothermic machine perfusion. BACKGROUND Despite the alarming increase in donor organ shortage, the highly prevalent fatty liver grafts are often discarded due to the risk of primary nonfunction. Effective strategies preventing such outcomes are currently lacking. An exciting new avenue is the introduction of ex situ normothermic machine perfusion (NMP), enabling a liver to remain fully functional for up to 2 weeks and providing a unique window of opportunity for defatting before transplantation. METHODS Over a 5-year period, 23 discarded liver grafts and 28 partial livers from our resection program were tested during ex situ normothermic machine perfusion. The steatosis degree was determined on serial biopsies by expert pathologists, and triglyceride contents were measured simultaneously. RESULTS Of 51 liver grafts, 20 were steatotic, with up to 85% macrovesicular steatosis, and were perfused for up to 12 days. Ten livers displayed marked (5 of which almost complete) loss of fat, while the other 10 did not respond to long-term perfusion. Successful defatting was related to prolonged perfusion, automated glucose control, circadian nutrition, and L-carnitine/fenofibrate supplementation. Pseudopeliotic steatosis and the associated activation of Kupffer/stellate cells were unexpected processes that might contribute to defatting. Synthetic and metabolic functions remained preserved for most grafts until perfusion ended. CONCLUSION Ex situ long-term perfusion effectively reduces steatosis while preserving organ viability and may in the future allow transplantation of primarily unusable high-risk grafts, significantly increasing the number of organs available for transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard X Sousa Da Silva
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Swiss HPB and Transplant Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Wyss Zurich Translational Center, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lucia Bautista Borrego
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Swiss HPB and Transplant Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Wyss Zurich Translational Center, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniela Lenggenhager
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich and University Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Florian Huwyler
- Wyss Zurich Translational Center, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, ETH Zurich
| | - Jonas Binz
- Wyss Zurich Translational Center, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, ETH Zurich
| | - Leandro Mancina
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Swiss HPB and Transplant Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Wyss Zurich Translational Center, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eva Breuer
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Swiss HPB and Transplant Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kendra Wernlé
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Swiss HPB and Transplant Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Wyss Zurich Translational Center, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Max Hefti
- Wyss Zurich Translational Center, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matteo Mueller
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Swiss HPB and Transplant Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Wyss Zurich Translational Center, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Leslie Cunningham
- Wyss Zurich Translational Center, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, ETH Zurich
| | - Michelle L De Oliveira
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Swiss HPB and Transplant Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Henrik Petrowsky
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Swiss HPB and Transplant Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Achim Weber
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich and University Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Molecular Cancer Research, University Hospital Zurich and University Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Dutkowski
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Swiss HPB and Transplant Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Wyss Zurich Translational Center, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Waldemar Hoffmann
- Wyss Zurich Translational Center, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anurag Gupta
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Swiss HPB and Transplant Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mark W Tibbitt
- Wyss Zurich Translational Center, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, ETH Zurich
| | - Bostjan Humar
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Swiss HPB and Transplant Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pierre-Alain Clavien
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Swiss HPB and Transplant Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Wyss Zurich Translational Center, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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16
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Chapman WC, Barbas AS, D'Alessandro AM, Vianna R, Kubal CA, Abt P, Sonnenday C, Barth R, Alvarez-Casas J, Yersiz H, Eckhoff D, Cannon R, Genyk Y, Sher L, Singer A, Feng S, Roll G, Cohen A, Doyle MB, Sudan DL, Al-Adra D, Khan A, Subramanian V, Abraham N, Olthoff K, Tekin A, Berg L, Coussios C, Morris C, Randle L, Friend P, Knechtle SJ. Normothermic Machine Perfusion of Donor Livers for Transplantation in the United States: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Ann Surg 2023; 278:e912-e921. [PMID: 37389552 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare conventional low-temperature storage of transplant donor livers [static cold storage (SCS)] with storage of the organs at physiological body temperature [normothermic machine perfusion (NMP)]. BACKGROUND The high success rate of liver transplantation is constrained by the shortage of transplantable organs (eg, waiting list mortality >20% in many centers). NMP maintains the liver in a functioning state to improve preservation quality and enable testing of the organ before transplantation. This is of greatest potential value with organs from brain-dead donor organs (DBD) with risk factors (age and comorbidities), and those from donors declared dead by cardiovascular criteria (donation after circulatory death). METHODS Three hundred eighty-three donor organs were randomized by 15 US liver transplant centers to undergo NMP (n = 192) or SCS (n = 191). Two hundred sixty-six donor livers proceeded to transplantation (NMP: n = 136; SCS: n = 130). The primary endpoint of the study was "early allograft dysfunction" (EAD), a marker of early posttransplant liver injury and function. RESULTS The difference in the incidence of EAD did not achieve significance, with 20.6% (NMP) versus 23.7% (SCS). Using exploratory, "as-treated" rather than "intent-to-treat," subgroup analyses, there was a greater effect size in donation after circulatory death donor livers (22.8% NMP vs 44.6% SCS) and in organs in the highest risk quartile by donor risk (19.2% NMP vs 33.3% SCS). The incidence of acute cardiovascular decompensation at organ reperfusion, "postreperfusion syndrome," as a secondary outcome was reduced in the NMP arm (5.9% vs 14.6%). CONCLUSIONS NMP did not lower EAD, perhaps related to the inclusion of lower-risk liver donors, as higher-risk donor livers seemed to benefit more. The technology is safe in standard organ recovery and seems to have the greatest benefit for marginal donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- William C Chapman
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis
| | | | | | - Rodrigo Vianna
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine
| | | | - Peter Abt
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
| | | | - Rolf Barth
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago School of Medicine
| | | | - Hasan Yersiz
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Devin Eckhoff
- Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School
| | - Robert Cannon
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama School of Medicine
| | - Yuri Genyk
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC
| | - Linda Sher
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC
| | | | - Sandy Feng
- Department of Surgery, UCSF School of Medicine
| | | | - Ari Cohen
- Department of Surgery, Ochsner Clinic
| | - Maria B Doyle
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis
| | - Debra L Sudan
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine
| | - David Al-Adra
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison
| | - Adeel Khan
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis
| | | | - Nader Abraham
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine
| | - Kim Olthoff
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
| | - Akin Tekin
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine
| | - Lynn Berg
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison
| | | | - Chris Morris
- Department of Surgery, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, LA
| | - Lucy Randle
- Department of Surgery, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, LA
| | - Peter Friend
- Department of Surgery, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, LA
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17
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Agostini C, Buccianti S, Risaliti M, Fortuna L, Tirloni L, Tucci R, Bartolini I, Grazi GL. Complications in Post-Liver Transplant Patients. J Clin Med 2023; 12:6173. [PMID: 37834818 PMCID: PMC10573382 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12196173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation (LT) is the treatment of choice for liver failure and selected cases of malignancies. Transplantation activity has increased over the years, and indications for LT have been widened, leading to organ shortage. To face this condition, a high selection of recipients with prioritizing systems and an enlargement of the donor pool were necessary. Several authors published their case series reporting the results obtained with the use of marginal donors, which seem to have progressively improved over the years. The introduction of in situ and ex situ machine perfusion, although still strongly debated, and better knowledge and treatment of the complications may have a role in achieving better results. With longer survival rates, a significant number of patients will suffer from long-term complications. An extensive review of the literature concerning short- and long-term outcomes is reported trying to highlight the most recent findings. The heterogeneity of the behaviors within the different centers is evident, leading to a difficult comparison of the results and making explicit the need to obtain more consent from experts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ilenia Bartolini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, AOU Careggi, 50134 Florence, Italy; (C.A.); (S.B.); (M.R.); (L.F.); (L.T.); (R.T.); (G.L.G.)
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18
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Kim JI, Torres-Hernandez A, Griesemer A. Pigs or Pumps: A new strategy emerges for liver perfusion. Hepatology 2023; 78:694-696. [PMID: 37013927 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline I Kim
- Transplant Institute, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
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19
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Patrono D, De Stefano N, Vissio E, Apostu AL, Petronio N, Vitelli G, Catalano G, Rizza G, Catalano S, Colli F, Chiusa L, Romagnoli R. How to Preserve Steatotic Liver Grafts for Transplantation. J Clin Med 2023; 12:3982. [PMID: 37373676 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12123982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver allograft steatosis is a significant risk factor for postoperative graft dysfunction and has been associated with inferior patient and graft survival, particularly in the case of moderate or severe macrovesicular steatosis. In recent years, the increasing incidence of obesity and fatty liver disease in the population has led to a higher proportion of steatotic liver grafts being used for transplantation, making the optimization of their preservation an urgent necessity. This review discusses the mechanisms behind the increased susceptibility of fatty livers to ischemia-reperfusion injury and provides an overview of the available strategies to improve their utilization for transplantation, with a focus on preclinical and clinical evidence supporting donor interventions, novel preservation solutions, and machine perfusion techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Patrono
- General Surgery 2U-Liver Transplant Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Università di Torino, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Nicola De Stefano
- General Surgery 2U-Liver Transplant Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Università di Torino, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Elena Vissio
- Department of Pathology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Università di Torino, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Ana Lavinia Apostu
- General Surgery 2U-Liver Transplant Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Università di Torino, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Petronio
- General Surgery 2U-Liver Transplant Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Università di Torino, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Giovanni Vitelli
- General Surgery 2U-Liver Transplant Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Università di Torino, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Giorgia Catalano
- General Surgery 2U-Liver Transplant Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Università di Torino, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Giorgia Rizza
- General Surgery 2U-Liver Transplant Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Università di Torino, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Silvia Catalano
- General Surgery 2U-Liver Transplant Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Università di Torino, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Fabio Colli
- General Surgery 2U-Liver Transplant Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Università di Torino, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Luigi Chiusa
- Department of Pathology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Università di Torino, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Renato Romagnoli
- General Surgery 2U-Liver Transplant Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Università di Torino, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Turin, Italy
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20
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Schlegel A, Mergental H, Fondevila C, Porte RJ, Friend PJ, Dutkowski P. Machine perfusion of the liver and bioengineering. J Hepatol 2023; 78:1181-1198. [PMID: 37208105 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
With the increasing number of accepted candidates on waiting lists worldwide, there is an urgent need to expand the number and the quality of donor livers. Dynamic preservation approaches have demonstrated various benefits, including improving liver function and graft survival, and reducing liver injury and post-transplant complications. Consequently, organ perfusion techniques are being used in clinical practice in many countries. Despite this success, a proportion of livers do not meet current viability tests required for transplantation, even with the use of modern perfusion techniques. Therefore, devices are needed to further optimise machine liver perfusion - one promising option is to prolong machine liver perfusion for several days, with ex situ treatment of perfused livers. For example, stem cells, senolytics, or molecules targeting mitochondria or downstream signalling can be administered during long-term liver perfusion to modulate repair mechanisms and regeneration. Besides, today's perfusion equipment is also designed to enable the use of various liver bioengineering techniques, to develop scaffolds or for their re-cellularisation. Cells or entire livers can also undergo gene modulation to modify animal livers for xenotransplantation, to directly treat injured organs or to repopulate such scaffolds with "repaired" autologous cells. This review first discusses current strategies to improve the quality of donor livers, and secondly reports on bioengineering techniques to design optimised organs during machine perfusion. Current practice, as well as the benefits and challenges associated with these different perfusion strategies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Schlegel
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Centre of Preclinical Research, Milan, 20122, Italy; Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Swiss HPB Center, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hynek Mergental
- The Liver Unit, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Constantino Fondevila
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery & Transplantation, General & Digestive Surgery Service, Hospital Universitario La Paz, IdiPAZ, CIBERehd, Madrid, Spain
| | - Robert J Porte
- Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, Department of Surgery, Division of HPB & Transplant Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Peter J Friend
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Philipp Dutkowski
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Swiss HPB Center, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
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Vargas PA, Yu C, Goldaracena N. Comprehensive review of the application of MP and the potential for graft modification. FRONTIERS IN TRANSPLANTATION 2023; 2:1163539. [PMID: 38993846 PMCID: PMC11235300 DOI: 10.3389/frtra.2023.1163539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Following procurement, the liver graft is exposed to an ischemic period that triggers several pathophysiologic changes in response to oxygen deprivation. Therefore, the goal during organ preservation is to attenuate such response and provide an adequate environment that prepares the graft for its metabolic reactivation following implantation. This has been widely achieved via static cold storage preservation, where the maintenance of the graft using cold preservation solutions reduce its metabolic activity and confer cytoprotection until transplantation. However, despite being the gold standard for organ preservation, static cold storage holds several disadvantages. In addition, the ongoing organ shortage has led to the use of unconventional grafts that could benefit from therapies pre-transplant. Organ preservation via machine perfusion systems appears as a promising solution to address both. Methods Here, we aim to present a state-of-the-art narrative review regarding liver graft modification options using machine perfusion systems in combination with adjuvant strategies including immunomodulation, gene therapy and pharmacotherapy. Results Available reports are scarce and mostly on experimental animal models. Most of the literature reflects the use of normothermic or subnormothermic machine perfusion devices given that these particular type of machine allows for a metabolically active organ, and therefore facilitates its modification. Although limited, promising findings in available reports suggest that organ preservation using machine perfusion system when combined with alternative therapies can be feasible and safe strategies for graft modification. Discussion Further research on clinical settings are needed to better elucidate the true effect of graft modification pre-transplant on short- and long-term graft and patient survival. There is a long way ahead to develop guidelines and approve these novel therapies for clinical practice. However, the path looks promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola A. Vargas
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Christine Yu
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Nicolas Goldaracena
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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Staubli SM, Ceresa CDL, Pollok JM. The Current Role and Future Applications of Machine Perfusion in Liver Transplantation. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:bioengineering10050593. [PMID: 37237663 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10050593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The relative paucity of donor livers suitable for transplantation has sparked innovations to preserve and recondition organs to expand the pool of transplantable organs. Currently, machine perfusion techniques have led to the improvement of the quality of marginal livers and to prolonged cold ischemia time and have allowed for the prediction of graft function through the analysis of the organ during perfusion, improving the rate of organ use. In the future, the implementation of organ modulation might expand the scope of machine perfusion beyond its current usage. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of the current clinical use of machine perfusion devices in liver transplantation and to provide a perspective for future clinical use, including therapeutic interventions in perfused donor liver grafts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian M Staubli
- HPB and Liver Transplantation Service, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Pond Street, London NW3 QG, UK
| | - Carlo D L Ceresa
- HPB and Liver Transplantation Service, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Pond Street, London NW3 QG, UK
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Joerg M Pollok
- HPB and Liver Transplantation Service, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Pond Street, London NW3 QG, UK
- Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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23
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Li J, Lu H, Zhang J, Li Y, Zhao Q. Comprehensive Approach to Assessment of Liver Viability During Normothermic Machine Perfusion. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2023; 11:466-479. [PMID: 36643041 PMCID: PMC9817053 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2022.00130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation is the most effective treatment of advanced liver disease, and the use of extended criteria donor organs has broadened the source of available livers. Although normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) has become a useful tool in liver transplantation, there are no consistent criteria that can be used to evaluate the viability of livers during NMP. This review summarizes the criteria, indicators, and methods used to evaluate liver viability during NMP. The shape, appearance, and hemodynamics of the liver can be analyzed at a macroscopic level, while markers of liver injury, indicators of liver and bile duct function, and other relevant indicators can be evaluated by biochemical analysis. The liver can also be assessed by tissue biopsy at the microscopic level. Novel methods for assessment of liver viability are introduced. The limitations of evaluating liver viability during NMP are discussed and suggestions for future clinical practice are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Qiang Zhao
- Correspondence to: Qiang Zhao, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6369-1393. Tel: +86-15989196835, E-mail:
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24
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Rauchfuß F, Tautenhahn HM, Dondorf F, Ali-Deeb A, Settmacher U. Critical Evaluation of Discarded Donor Livers in the Eurotransplant Region: Potential Implications for Machine Perfusion. Ann Transplant 2023; 28:e938132. [PMID: 36927714 PMCID: PMC10029319 DOI: 10.12659/aot.938132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are still many offered donor livers that are declined during the allocation process. Machine perfusion offers the option to evaluate (especially marginal) donor organs and to better decide whether a graft has the potential of being transplanted or not. There is a lack of clear detailed data on why organs are declined and how many donor livers would have the potential of being evaluated in the machine. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 1356 donor livers between 2016 and 2018, which were offered by Eurotransplant and were declined during the allocation process; 284 grafts were from donor after cardiac death (DCD) and 1072 donations were from after brain death (DBD). The analysis was performed independently and blinded by senior transplant surgeons. RESULTS There were 904 (66.6%) donor livers with potential to be evaluated as suitable grafts in machine perfusion, whereas 417 (30.8%) organs were definitely not-transplantable, mainly due to liver cirrhosis, (untreated) donor malignancy, cardiac diseases of the donor leading to a hepatic congestion, and/or systemic infections in the donor. Donors in blood group "AB" were disproportionally often rejected. Due to missing data, 35 (2.6%) organs could not be sufficiently evaluated. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that many declined donor livers have potential of being evaluated by machine perfusion. Comprehensive use of machine perfusion is necessary and useful to improve the current organ shortage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Falk Rauchfuß
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Hans-Michael Tautenhahn
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Research Program "Else Kröner-Forschungskolleg AntiAge", Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Felix Dondorf
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Aladdin Ali-Deeb
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Utz Settmacher
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
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25
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Banker A, Bhatt N, Rao PS, Agrawal P, Shah M, Nayak M, Mohanka R. A Review of Machine Perfusion Strategies in Liver Transplantation. J Clin Exp Hepatol 2023; 13:335-349. [PMID: 36950485 PMCID: PMC10025749 DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The acceptance of liver transplantation as the standard of care for end-stage liver diseases has led to a critical shortage of donor allografts. To expand the donor organ pool, many countries have liberalized the donor criteria including extended criteria donors and donation after circulatory death. These marginal livers are at a higher risk of injury when they are preserved using the standard static cold storage (SCS) preservation techniques. In recent years, research has focused on optimizing organ preservation techniques to protect these marginal livers. Machine perfusion (MP) of the expanded donor liver has witnessed considerable advancements in the last decade. Research has showed MP strategies to confer significant advantages over the SCS techniques, such as longer preservation times, viability assessment and the potential to recondition high risk allografts prior to implantation. In this review article, we address the topic of MP in liver allograft preservation, with emphasis on current trends in clinical application. We discuss the relevant clinical trials related to the techniques of hypothermic MP, normothermic MP, hypothermic oxygenated MP, and controlled oxygenated rewarming. We also discuss the potential applications of ex vivo therapeutics which may be relevant in the future to further optimize the allograft prior to transplantation.
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Key Words
- ALP, Alkaline phosphatase
- ALT, Alanine transaminase
- ASO, Antisense oligonucleotides
- AST, Aspartate transaminase
- CIT, Cold ischemia times
- COPE, Consortium for Organ Preservation in Europe
- COR, Controlled oxygenated rewarming
- DBD, Donation after brain death
- DCD, Donation after circulatory death
- DHOPE, dual hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion
- EAD, Early allograft dysfunction
- ECD, Extended criteria donors
- ETC, Electron transport chain
- GGT, Gamma glutamyl transferase
- HCV, Hepatitis C virus
- HMP, Hypothermic machine perfusion
- HOPE, Hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion
- ICU, Intensive care unit
- IGL, Institute George Lopez-1
- INR, International normalized ratio
- IRI, ischemia reperfusion injury
- LDH, Lactate dehydrogenase
- MELD, Model for end-stage liver disease
- MP, Machine perfusion
- NAS, Non-anastomotic biliary strictures
- NMP, Normothermic machine perfusion
- NO, Nitric oxide
- PNF, Primary nonfunction
- ROS, Reactive oxygen species
- RT-PCR, Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction
- SNMP, Sub-normothermic machine perfusion
- UW, University of Wisconsin
- WIT, Warm ischemia times
- hypothermic machine perfusion
- hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion
- machine perfusion
- normothermic machine perfusion
- static cold storage
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Affiliation(s)
- Amay Banker
- Department of Liver Transplant and HPB Surgery, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, India
| | - Neha Bhatt
- Department of Liver Transplant and HPB Surgery, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, India
| | - Prashantha S. Rao
- Department of Liver Transplant and HPB Surgery, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, India
| | - Pravin Agrawal
- Department of Liver Transplant and HPB Surgery, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, India
| | - Mitul Shah
- Department of Liver Transplant and HPB Surgery, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, India
| | - Madhavi Nayak
- Department of Liver Transplant and HPB Surgery, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, India
| | - Ravi Mohanka
- Department of Liver Transplant and HPB Surgery, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, India
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Metabolomics Differences of the Donor Livers Between In Situ and Ex Situ Conditions During Ischemia-free Liver Transplantation. Transplantation 2023; 107:e139-e151. [PMID: 36857152 PMCID: PMC10125122 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ischemia-free liver transplantation (IFLT) has been innovated to avoid graft ischemia during organ procurement, preservation, and implantation. However, the metabolism activity of the donor livers between in the in situ and ex situ normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) conditions, and between standard criteria donor and extend criteria donor remains unknown. METHODS During IFLT, plasma samples were collected both at the portal vein and hepatic vein of the donor livers in situ during procurement and ex situ during NMP. An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was conducted to investigate the common and distinct intraliver metabolite exchange. RESULTS Profound cysteine and methionine metabolism, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis were found in both in situ and ex situ conditions. However, obvious D-arginine and D-ornithine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism were only found in the in situ condition. The suppressed activities of the urea cycle pathway during ex situ condition were confirmed in an RNA expression level. In addition, compared with extend criteria donor group, standard criteria donor group had more active intraliver metabolite exchange in metabonomics level. Furthermore, we found that the relative concentration of p-cresol, allocystathionine, L-prolyl-L-proline in the ex situ group was strongly correlated with peak alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase at postoperative days 1-7. CONCLUSIONS In the current study, we show the common and distinct metabolism activities during IFLT. These findings might provide insights on how to modify the design of NMP device, improve the perfusate components, and redefine the criteria of graft viability.
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Lin Y, Huang H, Chen L, Chen R, Liu J, Zheng S, Ling Q. Assessing Donor Liver Quality and Restoring Graft Function in the Era of Extended Criteria Donors. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2023; 11:219-230. [PMID: 36406331 PMCID: PMC9647107 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2022.00194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation (LT) is the final treatment option for patients with end-stage liver disease. The increasing donor shortage results in the wide usage of grafts from extended criteria donors across the world. Using such grafts is associated with the elevated incidences of post-transplant complications including initial nonfunction and ischemic biliary tract diseases, which significantly reduce recipient survival. Although several clinical factors have been demonstrated to impact donor liver quality, accurate, comprehensive, and effective assessment systems to guide decision-making for organ usage, restoration or discard are lacking. In addition, the development of biochemical technologies and bioinformatic analysis in recent years helps us better understand graft injury during the perioperative period and find potential ways to restore graft function. Moreover, such advances reveal the molecular profiles of grafts or perfusate that are susceptible to poor graft function and provide insight into finding novel biomarkers for graft quality assessment. Focusing on donors and grafts, we updated potential biomarkers in donor blood, liver tissue, or perfusates that predict graft quality following LT, and summarized strategies for restoring graft function in the era of extended criteria donors. In this review, we also discuss the advantages and drawbacks of these potential biomarkers and offer suggestions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimou Lin
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haitao Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lifeng Chen
- Department of Clinical Engineering and Information Technology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ruihan Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jimin Liu
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shusen Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Combined Multiorgan Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qi Ling
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Combined Multiorgan Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Correspondence to: Qi Ling, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine; Key Laboratory of Combined Multiorgan Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7377-2381. Tel/Fax: +86-571-87236629, E-mail:
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28
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Azizieh Y, Westhaver LP, Badrudin D, Boudreau JE, Gala-Lopez BL. Changing liver utilization and discard rates in clinical transplantation in the ex-vivo machine preservation era. FRONTIERS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY 2023; 5:1079003. [PMID: 36908294 PMCID: PMC9996101 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2023.1079003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation is a well-established treatment for many with end-stage liver disease. Unfortunately, the increasing organ demand has surpassed the donor supply, and approximately 30% of patients die while waiting for a suitable liver. Clinicians are often forced to consider livers of inferior quality to increase organ donation rates, but ultimately, many of those organs end up being discarded. Extensive testing in experimental animals and humans has shown that ex-vivo machine preservation allows for a more objective characterization of the graft outside the body, with particular benefit for suboptimal organs. This review focuses on the history of the implementation of ex-vivo liver machine preservation and how its enactment may modify our current concept of organ acceptability. We provide a brief overview of the major drivers of organ discard (age, ischemia time, steatosis, etc.) and how this technology may ultimately revert such a trend. We also discuss future directions for this technology, including the identification of new markers of injury and repair and the opportunity for other ex-vivo regenerative therapies. Finally, we discuss the value of this technology, considering current and future donor characteristics in the North American population that may result in a significant organ discard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara Azizieh
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - David Badrudin
- Department of Surgery, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Jeanette E Boudreau
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Boris L Gala-Lopez
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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29
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Della Guardia B, Boteon APCS, Matielo CEL, Felga G, Boteon YL. Current and future perspectives on acute-on-chronic liver failure: Challenges of transplantation, machine perfusion, and beyond. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:6922-6934. [PMID: 36632319 PMCID: PMC9827581 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i48.6922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a syndrome that occurs in patients with chronic liver disease and is characterized by acute decompensation, organ failure and high short-term mortality. Partially due to the lack of universal diagnostic criteria, the actual ACLF prevalence remains unclear; nevertheless, it is expected to be a highly prevalent condition worldwide. Earlier transplantation is an effective protective measure for selected ACLF patients. Besides liver trans-plantation, diagnosing and treating precipitant events and providing supportive treatment for organ failures are currently the cornerstone of ACLF therapy. Although new clinical specific therapies have been researched, more studies are necessary to assess safety and efficacy. Therefore, future ACLF management strategies must consider measures to improve access to liver transplantation because the time window for this life-saving therapy is frequently narrow. Thus, an urgent and global discussion about allocation and prioritization for transplantation in critically ill ACLF patients is needed because there is evidence suggesting that the current model may not portray their waitlist mortality. In addition, while donor organ quality is meant to be a prognostic factor in the ACLF setting, recent evidence suggests that machine perfusion of the liver may be a safe tool to improve the donor organ pool and expedite liver transplantation in this scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Celso E L Matielo
- Liver Unit, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo 05652-900, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Felga
- Liver Unit, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo 05652-900, Brazil
| | - Yuri L Boteon
- Liver Unit, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo 05652-900, Brazil
- Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein, Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, São Paulo 05652-900, Brazil
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Li SX, Chen L, Li MQ, Lv GY. Pharmacological agents for defatting livers by normothermic machine perfusion. Artif Organs 2022. [PMID: 36514256 DOI: 10.1111/aor.14478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ex-vivo normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) preserves the liver metabolism at 37°C and has rapidly developed as a promising approach for assessing the viability and improving the performance of organs from expanded criteria donors, including fatty liver grafts. NMP is an effective method for defatting fatty livers when combined with pharmaceutical therapies. Pharmacological agents have been shown to facilitate liver defatting by NMP. OBSERVATIONS This systematic review summarizes available pharmacological therapies for liver defatting, with a particular emphasis on defatting agents that can be employed clinically as defatting components during liver NMP as an ex vivo translational paradigm. CONCLUSION NMP provides an opportunity for organ treatment and can be used as a defatting platform in the future with defatting agents. Nagrath's cocktail is the most commonly used defatting cocktail in NMP; however, its carcinogenic components may limit its clinical application. Thus, the combination of a defatting cocktail with a new clinically applicable component, for example, a polyphenolic natural compound, may be a novel pharmacological option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Xuan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - Lanlan Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - Ming-Qian Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - Guo-Yue Lv
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin, China
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Tingle SJ, Thompson ER, Bates L, Ibrahim IK, Govaere O, Shuttleworth V, Wang L, Figueiredo R, Palmer J, Bury Y, Anstee QM, Wilson C. Pharmacological testing of therapeutics using normothermic machine perfusion: A pilot study of 2,4-dinitrophenol delivery to steatotic human livers. Artif Organs 2022; 46:2201-2214. [PMID: 35546070 DOI: 10.1111/aor.14309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) provides a platform for drug-delivery. However, pharmacological considerations for therapeutics delivered during NMP are scarcely reported. We aimed to demonstrate the ability of NMP as a platform for pharmacological testing, using a drug which increases metabolism (2,4-dinitrophenol; DNP) as an example therapeutic. METHODS We performed 25 h of NMP on human livers which had been declined for transplant due to steatosis (n = 7). Three livers received a DNP bolus, three were controls, and one received a DNP infusion. RESULTS Toxicity studies revealed DNP delivery was safe, without hepatotoxic effects. The liver surface temperature was increased in the DNP group (p = 0.046), but no livers suffered hyperthermia-the mechanism of DNP toxicity in vivo. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed DNP elimination with first-order kinetics and 7.7 h half-life (95% CI = 5.1-15.9 hrs). The clearance of DNP in bile was negligible. As expected, DNP significantly increased oxygen consumption (p = 0.023); this increase was closely correlated with perfusate DNP concentration (r2 = 0.975; p = 0.002) and the effect was lost as DNP was eliminated by the liver. A DNP infusion rate, calculated using our pharmacokinetic data, successfully maintained perfusate DNP concentration. DISCUSSION Detailed pharmacological testing can be performed during NMP. Our therapeutic (DNP) is rapidly eliminated by the ex vivo liver, meaning the drug effect of increased metabolism is only transient. This demonstrates the importance of assessing pharmacokinetics when delivering therapeutics during NMP, especially for prolonged perfusion of organs with established roles in drug elimination. Rigorous pharmacological testing is needed to unlock the potential of NMP as a clinical drug-delivery platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Tingle
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Department of HPB and Transplant Surgery, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Blood and Transplant Research Unit, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Emily R Thompson
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Department of HPB and Transplant Surgery, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Blood and Transplant Research Unit, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Lucy Bates
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Blood and Transplant Research Unit, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Ibrahim K Ibrahim
- Department of HPB and Transplant Surgery, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Olivier Govaere
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Victoria Shuttleworth
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Lu Wang
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Blood and Transplant Research Unit, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Rodrigo Figueiredo
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Department of HPB and Transplant Surgery, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Jeremy Palmer
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Yvonne Bury
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Quentin M Anstee
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Colin Wilson
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Department of HPB and Transplant Surgery, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Young EN, Dogan M, Watkins C, Bajwa A, Eason JD, Kuscu C, Kuscu C. A Review of Defatting Strategies for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911805. [PMID: 36233107 PMCID: PMC9569609 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a huge cause of chronic liver failure around the world. This condition has become more prevalent as rates of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and obesity have also escalated. The unfortunate outcome for many people is liver cirrhosis that warrants transplantation or being unable to receive a transplant since many livers are discarded due to high levels of steatosis. Over the past several years, however, a great deal of work has gone into understanding the pathophysiology of this disease as well as possible treatment options. This review summarizes various defatting strategies including in vitro use of pharmacologic agents, machine perfusion of extracted livers, and genomic approaches targeting specific proteins. The goal of the field is to reduce the number of necessary transplants and expand the pool of organs available for use.
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Muller X, Rossignol G, Mohkam K, Mabrut JY. Novel strategies in liver graft preservation - The French perspective. J Visc Surg 2022; 159:389-398. [PMID: 36109331 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviscsurg.2022.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Given the increasing graft shortage, the transplant community is forced to use so called marginal liver grafts with a higher susceptibility to ischemia-reperfusion injury. This exposes the recipient to a higher risk of graft failure and post-transplant complications. While static cold storage remains the gold standard in low-risk transplant scenarios, dynamic preservation strategies may allow to improve outcomes after transplantation of marginal liver grafts. Two dynamic preservation strategies, end-ischemic hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) and continuous normothermic machine perfusion (cNMP), have been evaluated in randomized clinical trials. The results show improved preservation of liver grafts after cNMP and reduction of post-transplant biliary complications after HOPE. In comparison to cNMP, HOPE has the advantage of requiring less logistics and expertise with the possibility to return to default static cold storage. Both strategies allow to assess graft viability prior to transplantation and may thus contribute to optimizing graft selection and reducing discard rates. The use of dynamic preservation is rapidly increasing in France and results from a national randomized trial on the use of HOPE in marginal grafts will soon be available. Future applications should focus on controlled donation after circulatory death liver grafts, split grafts and graft treatment during perfusion. The final aim of dynamic liver graft preservation is to improve post-transplant outcomes, increase the number of transplanted grafts and allow expansion of transplant indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Muller
- Department of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Croix-Rousse University Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; The Lyon Cancer Research Centre, Inserm U1052 UMR 5286, Lyon, France; ED 340 BMIC, Claude-Bernard Lyon 1 University, 69622 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - G Rossignol
- Department of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Croix-Rousse University Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; The Lyon Cancer Research Centre, Inserm U1052 UMR 5286, Lyon, France; ED 340 BMIC, Claude-Bernard Lyon 1 University, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; Department of Pediatric Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Femme-Mère-Enfant University Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - K Mohkam
- Department of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Croix-Rousse University Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; The Lyon Cancer Research Centre, Inserm U1052 UMR 5286, Lyon, France; Department of Pediatric Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Femme-Mère-Enfant University Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - J Y Mabrut
- Department of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Croix-Rousse University Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; The Lyon Cancer Research Centre, Inserm U1052 UMR 5286, Lyon, France
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Lascaris B, de Meijer VE, Porte RJ. Normothermic liver machine perfusion as a dynamic platform for regenerative purposes: What does the future have in store for us? J Hepatol 2022; 77:825-836. [PMID: 35533801 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.04.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Liver transplantation has become an immense success; nevertheless, far more recipients are registered on waiting lists than there are available donor livers for transplantation. High-risk, extended criteria donor livers are increasingly used to reduce the discrepancy between organ demand and supply. Especially for high-risk livers, dynamic preservation using machine perfusion can decrease post-transplantation complications and may increase donor liver utilisation by improving graft quality and enabling viability testing before transplantation. To further increase the availability of donor livers suitable for transplantation, new strategies are required that make it possible to use organs that are initially too damaged to be transplanted. With the current progress in experimental liver transplantation research, (long-term) normothermic machine perfusion may be used in the future as a dynamic platform for regenerative medicine approaches, enabling repair and regeneration of injured donor livers. Currently explored therapeutics such as defatting cocktails, RNA interference, senolytics, and stem cell therapy may assist in the repair and/or regeneration of injured livers before transplantation. This review will provide a forecast of the future utility of normothermic machine perfusion in decreasing the imbalance between donor liver demand and supply by enabling the repair and regeneration of damaged donor livers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Lascaris
- Section of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent E de Meijer
- Section of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Robert J Porte
- Section of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Panconesi R, Flores Carvalho M, Dondossola D, Muiesan P, Dutkowski P, Schlegel A. Impact of Machine Perfusion on the Immune Response After Liver Transplantation – A Primary Treatment or Just a Delivery Tool. Front Immunol 2022; 13:855263. [PMID: 35874758 PMCID: PMC9304705 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.855263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The frequent use of marginal livers forces transplant centres to explore novel technologies to improve organ quality and outcomes after implantation. Organ perfusion techniques are therefore frequently discussed with an ever-increasing number of experimental and clinical studies. Two main approaches, hypothermic and normothermic perfusion, are the leading strategies to be introduced in clinical practice in many western countries today. Despite this success, the number of studies, which provide robust data on the underlying mechanisms of protection conveyed through this technology remains scarce, particularly in context of different stages of ischemia-reperfusion-injury (IRI). Prior to a successful clinical implementation of machine perfusion, the concept of IRI and potential key molecules, which should be addressed to reduce IRI-associated inflammation, requires a better exploration. During ischemia, Krebs cycle metabolites, including succinate play a crucial role with their direct impact on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at mitochondrial complex I upon reperfusion. Such features are even more pronounced under normothermic conditions and lead to even higher levels of downstream inflammation. The direct consequence appears with an activation of the innate immune system. The number of articles, which focus on the impact of machine perfusion with and without the use of specific perfusate additives to modulate the inflammatory cascade after transplantation is very small. This review describes first, the subcellular processes found in mitochondria, which instigate the IRI cascade together with proinflammatory downstream effects and their link to the innate immune system. Next, the impact of currently established machine perfusion strategies is described with a focus on protective mechanisms known for the different perfusion approaches. Finally, the role of such dynamic preservation techniques to deliver specific agents, which appear currently of interest to modulate this posttransplant inflammation, is discussed together with future aspects in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Panconesi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Hepatobiliary Unit, Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- General Surgery 2U-Liver Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della, Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Mauricio Flores Carvalho
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Hepatobiliary Unit, Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Daniele Dondossola
- General and Liver Transplant Surgery Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore, Policlinico and University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Muiesan
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Hepatobiliary Unit, Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- General and Liver Transplant Surgery Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore, Policlinico and University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Philipp Dutkowski
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Swiss Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Schlegel
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Hepatobiliary Unit, Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- General and Liver Transplant Surgery Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore, Policlinico and University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Swiss Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Andrea Schlegel,
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Abstract
In a recent paper, Clavien et al. demonstrate the successful transplant of a sub-optimal donor liver using multi-day normothermic machine perfusion. This technological milestone opens up exciting new avenues for liver transplantation with the potential to ameliorate donor organ shortages and permit targeted therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Sagar
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Peter Friend
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Dingfelder J, Rauter L, Berlakovich GA, Kollmann D. Biliary Viability Assessment and Treatment Options of Biliary Injury During Normothermic Liver Perfusion—A Systematic Review. Transpl Int 2022; 35:10398. [PMID: 35707635 PMCID: PMC9189281 DOI: 10.3389/ti.2022.10398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, significant progress has been made in the field of liver machine perfusion. Many large transplant centers have implemented machine perfusion strategies in their clinical routine. Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) is primarily used to determine the quality of extended criteria donor (ECD) organs and for logistical reasons. The vast majority of studies, which assessed the viability of perfused grafts, focused on hepatocellular injury. However, biliary complications are still a leading cause of post-transplant morbidity and the need for re-transplantation. To evaluate the extent of biliary injury during NMP, reliable criteria that consider cholangiocellular damage are needed. In this review, different approaches to assess damage to the biliary tree and the current literature on the possible effects of NMP on the biliary system and biliary injury have been summarized. Additionally, it provides an overview of novel biomarkers and therapeutic strategies that are currently being investigated. Although expectations of NMP to adequately assess biliary injury are high, scant literature is available. There are several biomarkers that can be measured in bile that have been associated with outcomes after transplantation, mainly including pH and electrolytes. However, proper validation of those and other novel markers and investigation of the pathophysiological effect of NMP on the biliary tree is still warranted.
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Wagner T, Katou S, Wahl P, Vogt F, Kneifel F, Morgul H, Vogel T, Houben P, Becker F, Struecker B, Pascher A, Radunz S. Hyperspectral imaging for quantitative assessment of hepatic steatosis in human liver allografts. Clin Transplant 2022; 36:e14736. [PMID: 35622345 DOI: 10.1111/ctr.14736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In liver transplantation (LT), steatosis is commonly judged to be a risk factor for graft dysfunction, and quantitative assessment of hepatic steatosis remains crucial. Liver biopsy as the gold standard for evaluation of hepatic steatosis has certain drawbacks, i.e. invasiveness, and intra- and inter-observer variability. A non-invasive, quantitative modality could replace liver biopsy and eliminate these disadvantages, but has not yet been evaluated in human LT. METHODS We performed a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in the assessment of hepatic steatosis of human liver allografts for transplantation. Thirteen deceased donor liver allografts were included in the study. The degree of steatosis was assessed by means of conventional liver biopsy as well as HSI, performed at the end of backtable preparation, during normothermic machine perfusion (NMP), and after reperfusion in the recipient. RESULTS Organ donors were 51 [30-83] years old, and 61.5% were male. Donor body mass index was 24.2 [16.5-38.0] kg/m2. The tissue lipid index (TLI) generated by HSI at the end of back-table preparation correlated significantly with the histopathologically assessed degree of overall hepatic steatosis (R2 = 0.9085, p<0.0001); this was based on a correlation of TLI and microvesicular steatosis (R2 = 0.8120; p<0.0001). There is also a linear relationship between the histopathologically assessed degree of overall steatosis and TLI during NMP (R2 = 0.5646; p = 0.0031) as well as TLI after reperfusion (R2 = 0.6562; p = 0.0008). CONCLUSION HSI may safely be applied for accurate assessment of hepatic steatosis in human liver grafts. Certainly, TLI needs further assessment and validation in larger sample sizes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Wagner
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Shadi Katou
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Philip Wahl
- Diaspective Vision GmbH, Am Salzhaff, Germany
| | - Franziska Vogt
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Felicia Kneifel
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Haluk Morgul
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Thomas Vogel
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Philipp Houben
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Felix Becker
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Benjamin Struecker
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Andreas Pascher
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Sonia Radunz
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
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Moulding S, Figueiredo R, Sewpaul A, Leitch A, Bates L, Wright M, Wilson C. Pregnane X Receptor Activation in Liver Perfusion. Transplant Proc 2022; 54:600-604. [PMID: 35272879 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2021.12.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) is being adopted as a method of optimizing livers before transplantation. However, there is further potential to use the NMP model as a platform for drug delivery. Pregnane X receptor (PXR) activation upregulates CYP3A expression and has been shown to be protective against ischemia-reperfusion in rodents. We introduced a PXR activator during NMP and assessed activation of its downstream targets. METHODS AND MATERIALS Organs were perfused on a NMP circuit using an oxygenated red cell-based perfusate. A series of livers were allocated to PXR treatment and compared with a control group. Biopsies were taken at the start and end of the perfusion process to quantify CYP3A expression. Perfusion samples were taken throughout the perfusion process and used to measure biochemical variables (lactate and alanine transaminase). RESULTS Quantification polymerase chain reaction using the delta computed tomography method on 5 livers which received Avasimibe demonstrated successful upregulation of CYP3A43 and CYP3A4 over the course of perfusion by 3.8-fold and 2.2-fold, respectively (P = .026 and P = .098, respectively; Student t test). The 4 control livers had no significant change in expression of CYP3A43 or CYP3A over the course of perfusion. CONCLUSIONS We have demonstrated that NMP can be successfully used as a platform for drug delivery with reliable transcription activation of downstream targets. Although it remains to be seen whether PXR therapy is beneficial in humans, the model suggests that perfusion could be used clinically in the future to further optimize grafts by acting as a drug delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Moulding
- Institute for Cellular Medicine, Faculty Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Institute of Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
| | - Rodrigo Figueiredo
- Institute for Cellular Medicine, Faculty Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Institute of Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Avinash Sewpaul
- Institute for Cellular Medicine, Faculty Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Institute of Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Alistair Leitch
- Institute for Cellular Medicine, Faculty Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Institute of Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy Bates
- Institute for Cellular Medicine, Faculty Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit (Cambridge/Newcastle), The Institute of Transplantation, The Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Wright
- Institute for Cellular Medicine, Faculty Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Institute of Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Colin Wilson
- Institute for Cellular Medicine, Faculty Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit (Cambridge/Newcastle), The Institute of Transplantation, The Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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Machine perfusion of the liver: applications in transplantation and beyond. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 19:199-209. [PMID: 34997204 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-021-00557-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The shortage of donor livers considered suitable for transplantation has driven the development of novel methods for organ preservation and reconditioning. Machine perfusion techniques can improve the quality of marginal livers, extend the time for which they can be preserved and enable an objective assessment of their quality and viability. These benefits can help avoid the needless wastage of organs based on hypothetical concerns regarding quality. As machine perfusion techniques are gaining traction in clinical practice, attention has now shifted to their potential applications beyond transplantation. As well as providing an update on the current status of machine perfusion in clinical practice, this Perspective discusses how this technology is being used as a tool for therapeutic interventions including defatting of steatotic livers, immunomodulation and gene therapies.
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Boteon YL, Hessheimer AJ, Brüggenwirth IMA, Boteon APCS, Padilla M, de Meijer VE, Domínguez-Gil B, Porte RJ, Perera MTPR, Martins PN. The economic impact of machine perfusion technology in liver transplantation. Artif Organs 2021; 46:191-200. [PMID: 34878658 DOI: 10.1111/aor.14131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Several clinical studies have demonstrated the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of machine perfusion in liver transplantation, although its economic outcomes are still underexplored. This review aimed to examine the costs related to machine perfusion and its associated outcomes. METHODS Expert opinion of several groups representing different machine perfusion modalities. Critical analysis of the published literature reporting the economic outcomes of the most used techniques of machine perfusion in liver transplantation (normothermic and hypothermic ex situ machine perfusion and in situ normothermic regional perfusion). RESULTS Machine perfusion costs include disposable components of the perfusion device, perfusate components, personnel and facility fees, and depreciation of the perfusion device or device lease fee. The limited current literature suggests that although this upfront cost varies between perfusion modalities, its use is highly likely to be cost-effective. Optimization of the donor liver utilization rate, local conditions of transplant programs (long waiting list times and higher MELD scores), a decreased rate of complications, changes in logistics, and length of hospital stay are potential cost savings points that must highlight the expected benefits of this intervention. An additional unaccounted factor is that machine perfusion optimizing donor organ utilization allows patients to be transplanted earlier, avoiding clinical deterioration while on the waiting list and the costs associated with hospital admissions and other required procedures. CONCLUSION So far, the clinical benefits have guided machine perfusion implementation in liver transplantation. Albeit there is data suggesting the economic benefit of the technique, further investigation of its costs to healthcare systems and society and associated outcomes is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri L Boteon
- Liver Unit, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Amelia J Hessheimer
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery & Transplantation, General & Digestive Surgery Service, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel M A Brüggenwirth
- Department of Surgery, Section of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - María Padilla
- Organización Nacional de Trasplantes, Ministerio de Sanidad, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vincent E de Meijer
- Department of Surgery, Section of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Robert J Porte
- Department of Surgery, Section of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - M Thamara P R Perera
- Liver Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Paulo N Martins
- Department of Surgery, Transplant Division, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
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Becchetti C, Ferrarese A, Zeni N, Russo FP, Senzolo M, Gambato M, Bassi D, Cillo U, Burra P, Germani G. A prospective longitudinal assessment of de novo metabolic syndrome after liver transplantation. Clin Transplant 2021; 36:e14532. [PMID: 34757678 DOI: 10.1111/ctr.14532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND De novo metabolic syndrome (MS) is a frequent complication after liver transplantation (LT). The aim of this prospective study is to identify potential risk factors longitudinally associated to post-LT de novo MS. Patients without pre-LT MS who underwent LT between April 2013 and October 2017 were prospectively included. Metabolic variables were collected at LT and at 6, 12 and 24 months post-LT. RESULTS 63 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria (76% male, mean age 53.6±9.5 years). The prevalence of de novo MS was 46%, 43% and 49% at 6, 12, and 24 months after LT respectively. Among other MS components, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia significantly increased after LT. Considering the baseline characteristics at the adjusted analysis, alcoholic liver disease (OR 4.17, 95%CI 1.20-14.51; p = 0.03) and hypertension pre-LT (OR 11.3, 95%CI 1.49-85.46; p = 0.02 were confirmed as independent risk factors of post-LT de novo MS. In the time varying analysis, only eGFR (OR 0.97, 95%IC 0.97-0.98; p<0.0001) was found associated with post-LT de novo MS. CONCLUSIONS De novo MS frequently occurs shortly after LT, affecting nearly half of patients at 24 months post-LT. Lifestyle modifications should be recommended starting early post-LT, particularly for patients with established risk factors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Becchetti
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University Hospital Padua, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.,Hepatology, Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Department of Biomedical Research, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alberto Ferrarese
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University Hospital Padua, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Nicola Zeni
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University Hospital Padua, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesco Paolo Russo
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University Hospital Padua, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Marco Senzolo
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University Hospital Padua, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Martina Gambato
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University Hospital Padua, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Domenico Bassi
- Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Umberto Cillo
- Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Patrizia Burra
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University Hospital Padua, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Giacomo Germani
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University Hospital Padua, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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Carlson KN, Pavan-Guimaraes J, Verhagen JC, Chlebeck P, Verhoven B, Jennings H, Najmabadi F, Liu Y, Burlingham W, Capitini CM, Al-Adra D. Interleukin-10 and Transforming Growth Factor-β Cytokines Decrease Immune Activation During Normothermic Ex Vivo Machine Perfusion of the Rat Liver. Liver Transpl 2021; 27:1577-1591. [PMID: 34118129 PMCID: PMC8556218 DOI: 10.1002/lt.26206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Normothermic ex vivo liver perfusion (NEVLP) is a novel system for organ preservation that may improve over static cold storage clinically and offers the chance for graft modification prior to transplantation. Although recent studies have shown the presence of inflammatory molecules during perfusion, none have yet shown the effects of NEVLP on liver-resident immune cell activation. We investigated the effects of NEVLP on liver-resident immune cell activation and assessed the ability of anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 10 (IL10) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) to improve organ function and reduce immune activation during perfusion. Rat livers were perfused for 4 hours at 37°C with or without the addition of 20 ng/mL of each IL10 and TGF-β (n = 7). Naïve and cold storage (4 hours at 4°C) livers served as controls (n = 4). Following preservation, gene expression profiles were assessed through single-cell RNA sequencing; dendritic cell and macrophage activation was measured by flow cytometry; and cytokine production was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. NEVLP induced a global inflammatory gene expression signature, most notably in liver-resident macrophages and dendritic cells, which was accompanied by an increase in cell-surface levels of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II, CD40, and CD86. Immune activation was partially ameliorated by IL10 and TGF-β treatment, but no changes were observed in inflammatory cytokine production. Overall levels of liver damage and cellular apoptosis from perfusion were low, and liver function was improved with IL10 and TGF-β treatment. This is the first study to demonstrate that liver-resident immune cells gain an activated phenotype during NEVLP on both the gene and protein level and that this activation can be reduced through therapeutic intervention with IL10 and TGF-β.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin N. Carlson
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Juliana Pavan-Guimaraes
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Joshua C. Verhagen
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Peter Chlebeck
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Bret Verhoven
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Heather Jennings
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Feridoon Najmabadi
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Yongjun Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - William Burlingham
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Christian M. Capitini
- Department of Pediatrics, Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - David Al-Adra
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI,Department of Medicine, Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
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Xu M, Zhou F, Ahmed O, Upadhya GA, Jia J, Lee C, Xing J, Ye L, Shim SH, Zhang Z, Byrnes K, Wong B, Kim JS, Lin Y, Chapman WC. A Novel Multidrug Combination Mitigates Rat Liver Steatosis Through Activating AMPK Pathway During Normothermic Machine Perfusion. Transplantation 2021; 105:e215-e225. [PMID: 34019362 PMCID: PMC8356968 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000003675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatic steatosis is now the leading cause of liver discards in deceased donors. Previous studies [Yarmush formula (Y) defatting] have successfully reduced the fat content by treating rat steatotic livers on extracorporeal normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) with a multidrug combination including the GW compounds that were linked to an increased risk of carcinogenesis. METHODS We developed a novel multidrug combination by replacing the GW compounds with 2 polyphenols, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (E) and resveratrol (R). Sixteen rat livers were placed on NMP and assigned to control, Y defatting, Y + E + R defatting, or Y'-GW + E + R defatting groups (Y'-GW = 90% dose-reduced Y defatting, n = 4/group). RESULTS All livers in defatting groups had significant decreases in hepatic triglyceride content at the end of the experiment. However, livers treated with our novel Y'-GW + E + R combination had evidence of increased metabolism and less hepatocyte damage and carcinogenic potential. Our Y'-GW + E + R combination had increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (P = 0.019) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (P = 0.023) compared with control; these were not increased in Y + E + R group and actually decreased in the Y group. Furthermore, the Y'-GW + E + R group had less evidence of carcinogenic potential with no increase in AKT phosphorylation compared with control (P = 0.089); the Y (P = 0.031) and Y + E + R (P = 0.035) groups had striking increases in AKT phosphorylation. Finally, our Y'-GW + E + R showed less evidence of hepatocyte damage with significantly lower perfusate alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.007) and aspartate aminotransferase (P = 0.014) levels. CONCLUSIONS We have developed a novel multidrug combination demonstrating promising defatting efficacy via activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway with an optimized safety profile and reduced hepatotoxicity during ex vivo NMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Xu
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Fangyu Zhou
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ola Ahmed
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Gundumi A. Upadhya
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jianluo Jia
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Choonghee Lee
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jianwei Xing
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Li Ye
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - So Hee Shim
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Zhengyan Zhang
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kathleen Byrnes
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Brian Wong
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jae-Sung Kim
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Yiing Lin
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - William C. Chapman
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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Tien C, Remulla D, Kwon Y, Emamaullee J. Contemporary strategies to assess and manage liver donor steatosis: a review. Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2021; 26:474-481. [PMID: 34524179 PMCID: PMC8447219 DOI: 10.1097/mot.0000000000000893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Due to a persistent shortage of donor livers, attention has turned toward ways of utilizing marginal grafts, particularly those with steatosis, without incurring inferior outcomes. Here we review the evaluation and utilization of steatotic liver allografts, highlight recently published data, and discuss novel methods of graft rehabilitation. RECENT FINDINGS Although severe liver allograft (>60%) steatosis has been associated with inferior graft and recipient outcomes, mild (<30%) steatosis has not. There is ongoing debate regarding safe utilization of grafts with moderate (30-60%) steatosis. Presently, no established protocols for evaluating steatosis in donor candidates or utilizing such grafts exist. Liver biopsy is accepted as the gold standard technique, though noninvasive methods have shown promise in accurately predicting steatosis. More recently, machine perfusion has been shown to enhance ex situ liver function and reduce steatosis, emerging as a potential means of optimizing steatotic grafts prior to transplantation. SUMMARY Steatotic liver allografts constitute a large proportion of deceased donor organs. Further work is necessary to define safe upper limits for the acceptable degree of steatosis, develop standardized evaluation protocols, and establish utilization guidelines that prioritize safety. Machine perfusion has shown promise in rehabilitating steatotic grafts and offers the possibility of expanding the deceased donor pool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Tien
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Daphne Remulla
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Yong Kwon
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Juliet Emamaullee
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
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Incremental Improvements in Machine Perfusion. Transplantation 2021; 106:1105-1106. [PMID: 34495015 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000003946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Lin F, Zhen F, Yan X, Shaojun Y, Guizhu P, Yanfeng W, Qifa Y. Hypothermic oxygenated perfusion with defatting cocktail further improves steatotic liver grafts in a transplantation rat model. Artif Organs 2021; 45:E304-E316. [PMID: 33908066 DOI: 10.1111/aor.13976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we evaluated the restoring and defatting effect of hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) on severe steatotic liver grafts with a defatting cocktail (DF) in a rat model. Severe (≥60%) hepatic macrosteatosis was induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks, after which the rats were randomly divided into four following groups: Control group, with lean livers being preserved in static cold storage (SCS) at 0°C-4°C for 45 minutes; SCS group, with a steatotic liver graft (SLG) being preserved in SCS at 0°C-4°C for 4 hours; HOPE group, where SLG was perfused with 3-hours HOPE followed by 1-hours SCS; and HOPE + DF group, HOPE with the addition of DF. Graft function after orthotopic liver transplantation was assessed in terms of mitochondrial function (adenosine triphosphate [ATP], Glycogen), endoplasmic reticulum stress (PPY, GRP78, CHOP, and ATF-6), cell apoptosis (Tunel assay, Caspase-3), inflammatory level (HMGB1, TLR4, IL-1β, IL-6. TNF-α, Factor V), and posttransplantation survival. HOPE protected steatotic liver grafts from microcirculation disturbance and endoplasmic reticulum stress and then promoted ATP and glycogen synthesis that improved mitochondrial function. Meanwhile, under conditions of ischemia-reperfusion injury, it prevented nuclear injury and endothelial damage by suppressing the release of an inflammatory mediator. The high efficacy of HOPE was enhanced after the addition of the DF. DF agents cannot promote the lipid decomposition of the steatotic liver graft at 0°C-4°C, but they can further improve steatotic liver and postoperative survival compared to the HOPE. The defatted steatotic liver grafts can be safely used in rat orthotopic liver transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Lin
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Fu Zhen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Xiong Yan
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Ye Shaojun
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Peng Guizhu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Wang Yanfeng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Ye Qifa
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
- Research Center of National Health Ministry on Transplantation Medicine Engineering and Technology, The 3rd Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, PR China
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De Stefano N, Navarro-Tableros V, Roggio D, Calleri A, Rigo F, David E, Gambella A, Bassino D, Amoroso A, Patrono D, Camussi G, Romagnoli R. Human liver stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles reduce injury in a model of normothermic machine perfusion of rat livers previously exposed to a prolonged warm ischemia. Transpl Int 2021; 34:1607-1617. [PMID: 34448268 PMCID: PMC9291857 DOI: 10.1111/tri.13980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Livers from donors after circulatory death (DCD) are a promising option to increase the donor pool, but their use is associated with higher complication rate and inferior graft survival. Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) keeps the graft at 37°C, providing nutrients and oxygen supply. Human liver stem cell‐derived extracellular vesicles (HLSC‐EVs) are able to reduce liver injury and promote regeneration. We investigated the efficacy of a reconditioning strategy with HLSC‐EVs in an experimental model of NMP. Following total hepatectomy, rat livers were divided into 4 groups: (i) healthy livers, (ii) warm ischemic livers (60 min of warm ischemia), (iii) warm ischemic livers treated with 5 × 108 HLSC‐EVs/g‐liver, and (iv) warm ischemic livers treated with a 25 × 108 HLSC‐EVs/g‐liver. NMP lasted 6 h and HLSC‐EVs (Unicyte AG, Germany) were administered within the first 15 min. Compared to controls, HLSC‐EV treatment significantly reduced transaminases release. Moreover, HLSC‐EVs enhanced liver metabolism by promoting phosphate utilization and pH self‐regulation. As compared to controls, the higher dose of HLSC‐EV was associated with significantly higher bile production and lower intrahepatic resistance. Histologically, this group showed reduced necrosis and enhanced proliferation. In conclusion, HLSC‐EV treatment during NMP was feasible and effective in reducing injury in a DCD model with prolonged warm ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola De Stefano
- General Surgery 2U, Liver Transplantation Center, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Victor Navarro-Tableros
- 2i3T - Società per la gestione dell'incubatore di imprese e per il trasferimento tecnologico dell'Università degli Studi di Torino, Scarl. - Molecular Biotechnology Center (MBC), Turin, Italy
| | - Dorotea Roggio
- General Surgery 2U, Liver Transplantation Center, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Alberto Calleri
- General Surgery 2U, Liver Transplantation Center, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Federica Rigo
- General Surgery 2U, Liver Transplantation Center, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Ezio David
- Pathology Unit, Molinette Hospital, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gambella
- Pathology Unit, Molinette Hospital, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Daniela Bassino
- S.C. Banca del Sangue e Immunoematologia, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Antonio Amoroso
- Regional Transplantation Center, Piedmont, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Damiano Patrono
- General Surgery 2U, Liver Transplantation Center, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giovanni Camussi
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Renato Romagnoli
- General Surgery 2U, Liver Transplantation Center, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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van Beekum CJ, Vilz TO, Glowka TR, von Websky MW, Kalff JC, Manekeller S. Normothermic Machine Perfusion (NMP) of the Liver - Current Status and Future Perspectives. Ann Transplant 2021; 26:e931664. [PMID: 34426566 PMCID: PMC8400594 DOI: 10.12659/aot.931664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A shortage of available organs for liver transplantation has led transplant surgeons and researchers to seek for innovative approaches in hepatoprotection and improvement of marginal allografts. The most exciting development in the past decade has been continuous mechanical perfusion of livers with blood or preservation solution to mitigate ischemia-reperfusion injury in contrast to the current standard of static cold storage. Two variations of machine perfusion have emerged in clinical practice. During hypothermic oxygenated perfusion the liver is perfused using a red blood cell-free perfusate at 2-10°C. In contrast, normothermic machine perfusion mimics physiologic liver perfusion using a red blood cell-based solution at 35.5-037.5°C, offering a multitude of potential advantages. Putative effects of normothermic perfusion include abrogation of hyperfibrinolysis after reperfusion and inflammation, glycogen repletion, and regeneration of adenosine triphosphate. Research in normothermic machine perfusion focuses on development of biomarkers predicting allograft quality and susceptibility to ischemia-reperfusion injury. Moreover, normothermic perfusion of marginal allografts allows for application of a variety of therapeutic interventions potentially enhancing organ quality. Both methods need to be subjected to translational investigation and evaluation in clinical trials. A clear advantage is transformation of an emergency procedure at night into a planned daytime surgery. Current clinical trials suggest that normothermic perfusion not only increases the use of hepatic allografts but is also associated with milder ischemia-reperfusion injury, resulting in a reduced risk of early allograft dysfunction and less biliary complications, including ischemic cholangiopathy, compared to static cold storage. The aim of this review is to give a concise overview of normothermic machine perfusion and its current applications, benefits, and possible advances in the future.
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