A proof-of-concept study in small and large animal models for coupling liver normothermic machine perfusion with mesenchymal stromal cell bioreactors

Abstract To fully harness mesenchymal-stromal-cells (MSCs)’ benefits during Normothermic Machine Perfusion (NMP), we developed an advanced NMP platform coupled with a MSC-bioreactor and investigated its bio-molecular effects and clinical feasibility using rat and porcine models. The study involved t...

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Main Authors: Umberto Cillo, Caterina Lonati, Alessandra Bertacco, Lucrezia Magnini, Michele Battistin, Liver NMP Consortium, Lara Borsetto, Francesco Dazzi, David Al-Adra, Enrico Gringeri, Maria Laura Bacci, Andrea Schlegel, Daniele Dondossola
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55217-7
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Summary:Abstract To fully harness mesenchymal-stromal-cells (MSCs)’ benefits during Normothermic Machine Perfusion (NMP), we developed an advanced NMP platform coupled with a MSC-bioreactor and investigated its bio-molecular effects and clinical feasibility using rat and porcine models. The study involved three work packages: 1) Development (n = 5): MSC-bioreactors were subjected to 4 h-liverless perfusion; 2) Rat model (n = 10): livers were perfused for 4 h on the MSC-bioreactor-circuit or with the standard platform; 3) Porcine model (n = 6): livers were perfused using a clinical device integrated with a MSC-bioreactor or in its standard setup. MSCs showed intact stem-core properties after liverless-NMP. Liver NMP induced specific, liver-tailored, changes in MSCs’ secretome. Rat livers exposed to bioreactor-based perfusion produced more bile, released less damage and pro-inflammatory biomarkers, and showed improved mithocondrial function than those subjected to standard NMP. MSC-bioreactor integration into a clinical device resulted in no machine failure and perfusion-related injury. This proof-of-concept study presents a novel MSC-based liver NMP platform that could reduce the deleterious effects of ischemia/reperfusion before transplantation.
ISSN:2041-1723