intrasplenic-transplantation-hepatocytes-after-partial-hepatectomy

Intrasplenic Transplantation of Hepatocytes After Partial Hepatectomy in NOD.SCID Mice

Partial hepatectomy is a versatile and reproducible method to study liver regeneration and the effect of cell based therapeutics in various pathological ...

generation-rat-model-acute-liver-failure-combining-70-partial

Generation of a Rat Model of Acute Liver Failure by Combining 70% Partial Hepatectomy and Acetaminophen

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a clinical condition caused by various etiologies resulting in the loss of metabolic, biochemical, synthesizing, and ...

National Institute of Immunology

In view of the escalating need for autologous cell-based therapy for treatment of liver diseases, a novel candidate has been explored in the present study. The monocytes isolated from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) nucleic acid test (NAT)-positive (HNP) blood were differentiated to hepatocyte-like cells (NeoHep) in vitro by a two-step culture procedure. The excess neutrophils present in HNP blood were removed before setting up the culture. In the first step of culture, apoptotic cells were depleted and genes involved in hypoxia were induced, which was followed by the upregulation of genes involved in the c-MET signaling pathway in the second step. The NeoHep were void of hepatitis B virus and showed expression of albumin, connexin 32, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4-α, and functions such as albumin secretion and cytochrome P450 enzyme-mediated detoxification of xenobiotics. The engraftment of NeoHep derived from HBsAg-NAT-positive blood monocytes in partially hepatectomized NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid /J mice liver and the subsequent secretion of human albumin and clotting factor VII activity in serum make NeoHep a promising candidate for cell-based therapy. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:174-186.

Autologous NeoHep Derived from Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Patients' Blood Monocytes by Upregulation of c-MET Signaling.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a common retinal degeneration disease caused by mutation in any gene of the photo transduction cascade and results in photoreceptor dystrophy. Over decades, several animal models have been used to address the need for the elucidation of effective therapeutics and factors regulating retinal degeneration to prohibit or renew the damaged retina. However, controversies over the immune privilege of retina during cell transplantation and the role of immune modulation during RP still remain largely uninvestigated because of the lack of suitable animal models. Here, we have developed an immunocompromised mouse model, NOD.SCID-rd1, for retinitis pigmentosa (RP) by crossing CBA/J and NOD SCID mice and selecting homozygous double mutant animals for further breeding. Characterization of the newly developed RP model indicates a similar retinal degeneration pattern as CBA/J, with a decreased apoptosis rate and rhodopsin loss. It also exhibits loss of T cells, B cells and NK cells. The NOD.SCID-rd1 model is extremely useful for allogenic and xenogenic cell-based therapeutics, as indicated by the higher cell integration capacity post transplantation. We dissect the underlying role of the immune system in the progression of RP and the effect of immune deficiency on immune privilege of the eye using comparative qPCR studies of this model and the immune-competent RP model.

A novel immunodeficient NOD.SCID-rd1 mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa to investigate potential therapeutics and pathogenesis of retinal degeneration.

Kshama Jain

National Institute of Immunology

Intrasplenic Transplantation of Hepatocytes After Partial Hepatectomy in NOD.SCID Mice

Generation of a Rat Model of Acute Liver Failure by Combining 70% Partial Hepatectomy and Acetaminophen