0000000000390432
AUTHOR
Marc-alexander Von Mach
In Vitro Cultured Islet‐Derived Progenitor Cells of Human Origin Express Human Albumin in Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Mouse Liver In Vivo
Studies in rodents suggest the presence of a hepatopancreatic stem cell in adult pancreas that may give rise to liver cells in vivo. The aim of the present study was to determine the ability of human islet-derived cells to adopt a hepatic phenotype in vivo. Cultured human islet-derived progenitor cells that did not express albumin in vitro were stained with the red fluorescent dye PKH26 and injected into the liver of severe combined immunodeficiency mice. After 3 or 12 weeks, red fluorescent cells were detected in 11 of 15 livers and were mostly single cells that were well integrated into the liver tissue. Human albumin was found in 8 of 11 animals by immunohistochemistry, and human albumin…
Intraportal transplantation of allogenic pancreatic islets encapsulated in barium alginate beads in diabetic rats.
The survival of microencapsulated islets transplanted into the unmodified peritoneal cavity is limited, even if capsular overgrowth is restricted to a minimum, due to an insufficient oxygen supply to the islets. Therefore, research efforts should focus on finding or creating a transplantation site, which permits a closer contact between the encapsulated islets and the blood. For this reason, the liver could be an interesting candidate. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the intraportal transplantation of allogenic islets encapsulated in small-sized barium alginate beads is safe and succeeds to induce normoglycemia in diabetic rats. The intraportal transplantation o…
Plasticity of synaptic ribbons of the rat pineal gland in vitro — Minor effects of electrical stimulation
Synaptic ribbons (SRs) of mammalian pinealocytes exhibit day/night changes in number and size, changes that are apparently regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus via postganglionic sympathetic nerve fibres. Since the neural control of SR changes is far from clear and as pinealocytes produce action potentials, we undertook to investigate whether electrical stimulation affects SR changes. Isolated rat pineal glands removed during the daytime were kept in vitro for 0, 30, 60, 90 or 120 min, with or without continuous electrical stimulation (1 mA, 1 Hz), followed by the quantification of SR profiles (SRPs) by transmission electron microscopy. SRs were categorised as to whether they lay less t…
Pseudocholinesterase Activity in Organophosphate Poisoning after Storage of Unseparated Blood Samples at Room Temperature for 3 Weeks
Suppressed pseudocholinesterase activity is a well-established laboratory finding in patients with serious organophosphate poisoning (1). Recently, a 48-year-old man with suspected ingestion of methyl parathion died, and the postmortem examination was not indicative. After 3 weeks, an overlooked specimen was discovered that had been collected from the patient ∼1 h after the suspected poisoning. The determination of pseudocholinesterase activity was requested. The blood sample, which showed complete hemolysis, was separated by centrifugation, and the pseudocholinesterase activity was determined. The result of 4.21 kU/L indicated the presence of only minor organophosphate poisoning without su…
Anticoagulation with low-molecular-weight heparin (dalteparin) in plasmapheresis therapy: initial experience
BACKGROUND: In contrast to other extracorporeal treatments no established regime exists for anticoagulation with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in plasmapheresis therapy. A study was conducted to investigate whether LMWH (dalteparin-Na) is suitable as an effective anticoagulant in plasmapheresis therapy. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Eleven patients with autoimmune neurological diseases and the necessity for a plasmapheresis therapy were enrolled. A capillary membrane filter was used. A total of 2000 mL of human plasma was isovolumetrically exchanged per plasmapheresis cycle. The anticoagulation was accomplished with a single bolus of LMWH (dalteparin) of 80 to 90 IU per kg of body weigh…
Generation of human hepatocytes by stem cell technology: definition of the hepatocyte
Since 1999, numerous articles have reported the generation of hepatocytes from different types of extrahepatic stem or precursor cells. This opens exciting new possibilities for pharmacology and toxicology, as well as for cell therapy. Hepatocyte marker expression, including albumin, cytokeratin 18, c-met, alpha-fetoprotein and cytochrome P450 3A4 and -2B6, has been observed after transplantation of different types of human stem cells into the liver of laboratory animals or in vitro after incubation with cytokines. These intriguing observations have prompted scientists to classify stem cell-derived cell populations as hepatocytes. However, this conclusion may be premature. It has been shown…