The study was supported by the Key Scientific Research Program for the development of ex vivo Liver Perfusion System of Foshan City, China[(2020)A007]; Guang Dong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2020B1515120031); Guang Zhou Scientific Research Foundation (202002030201).

All animal experiments were conducted in accordance with the Experimental Animal Management Ordinance (Ministry of Science and Technology of the People&#39;s Republic of China, 2017). Bama female miniature pigs (40-45 kg) were used. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the General Hospital of Southern Theater Command of PLA, China. The pigs were housed in the research facility for 1 week before transplantation and then fasted but with free access to water for 12 h before t...

Orthotopic Pig Liver Transplant Preservation Using Machine Perfusion

<ol>
	<li>de Goeij, F., Schlegel, A., Muiesan, P., Guarrera, J. V., Dutkowski, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hypothermic+oxygenated+machine+perfusion+protects+from+cholangiopathy+in+donation+after+circulatory+death+liver+transplantation.">Hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion protects from cholangiopathy in donation after circulatory death liver transplantation.</a> Hepatology. 74 (6), 3525-3528 (2021).</li><li>Dutkowski, P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evolving+trends+in+machine+perfusion+for+liver+transplantation.">Evolving trends in machine perfusion for liver transplantation.</a> Gastroenterology. 156 (6), 1542-1547 (2019).</li><li>Parente, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Machine+perfusion+techniques+for+liver+transplantation:+A+meta-analysis+of+the+first+seven+randomized-controlled+trials.">Machine perfusion techniques for liver transplantation: A meta-analysis of the first seven randomized-controlled trials.</a> J Hepatol. 79 (5), 1201-1213 (2023).</li><li>Schlegel, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Outcomes+of+DCD+liver+transplantation+using+organs+treated+by+hypothermic+oxygenated+perfusion+before+implantation.">Outcomes of DCD liver transplantation using organs treated by hypothermic oxygenated perfusion before implantation.</a> J Hepatol. 70 (1), 50-57 (2019).</li><li>Zhang, Z. B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Normothermic+machine+perfusion+protects+against+liver+ischemia-reperfusion+injury+during+reduced-size+liver+transplantation+in+pigs.">Normothermic machine perfusion protects against liver ischemia-reperfusion injury during reduced-size liver transplantation in pigs.</a> Ann Transplant. 24, 9-17 (2019).</li><li>Minor, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hypothermic+reconditioning+by+gaseous+oxygen+improves+survival+after+liver+transplantation+in+the+pig.">Hypothermic reconditioning by gaseous oxygen improves survival after liver transplantation in the pig.</a> Am J Transplant. 11 (12), 2627-2634 (2011).</li><li>Linares-Cervantes, I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Predictor+parameters+of+liver+viability+during+porcine+normothermic+ex+situ+liver+perfusion+in+a+model+of+liver+transplantation+with+marginal+grafts.">Predictor parameters of liver viability during porcine normothermic ex situ liver perfusion in a model of liver transplantation with marginal grafts.</a> Am J Transplant. 19 (11), 2991-3005 (2019).</li><li>Fu, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Porcine+partial+liver+transplantation+without+veno-venous+bypass:+an+effective+model+for+small-for-size+liver+graft+injury.">Porcine partial liver transplantation without veno-venous bypass: an effective model for small-for-size liver graft injury.</a> Transplant Proc. 43 (5), 1953-1961 (2011).</li><li>Brockmann, J. G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sequence+of+reperfusion+influences+ischemia/reperfusion+injury+and+primary+graft+function+following+porcine+liver+transplantation.">Sequence of reperfusion influences ischemia/reperfusion injury and primary graft function following porcine liver transplantation.</a> Liver Transpl. 11 (10), 1214-1222 (2005).</li><li>Spetzler, V. N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Technique+of+porcine+liver+procurement+and+orthotopic+transplantation+using+an+active+porto-caval+shunt.">Technique of porcine liver procurement and orthotopic transplantation using an active porto-caval shunt.</a> J Vis Exp. (99), e52055 (2015).</li><li>Ceresa, C., Nasralla, D., Pollok, J. M., Friend, P. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Machine+perfusion+of+the+liver:+applications+in+transplantation+and+beyond.">Machine perfusion of the liver: applications in transplantation and beyond.</a> Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 19 (3), 199-209 (2022).</li><li>Martins, P. N., Buchwald, J. E., Mergental, H., Vargas, L., Quintini, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+role+of+normothermic+machine+perfusion+in+liver+transplantation.">The role of normothermic machine perfusion in liver transplantation.</a> Int J Surg. 82, 52-60 (2020).</li><li>Br&#252;ggenwirth, I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prolonged+dual+hypothermic+oxygenated+machine+preservation+(DHOPE-PRO)+in+liver+transplantation:+Study+protocol+for+a+stage+2,+prospective,+dual-arm,+safety+and+feasibility+clinical+trial.">Prolonged dual hypothermic oxygenated machine preservation (DHOPE-PRO) in liver transplantation: Study protocol for a stage 2, prospective, dual-arm, safety and feasibility clinical trial.</a> BMJ Open Gastroenterol. 9 (1), 000842 (2022).</li><li>Mergental, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transplantation+of+discarded+livers+following+viability+testing+with+normothermic+machine+perfusion.">Transplantation of discarded livers following viability testing with normothermic machine perfusion.</a> Nat Commun. 11 (1), 2939 (2020).</li><li>Nasralla, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+randomized+trial+of+normothermic+preservation+in+liver+transplantation.">A randomized trial of normothermic preservation in liver transplantation.</a> Nature. 557 (7703), 50-56 (2018).</li><li>Melandro, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Viability+criteria+during+liver+ex-situ+normothermic+and+hypothermic+perfusion.">Viability criteria during liver ex-situ normothermic and hypothermic perfusion.</a> Medicina (Kaunas). 58 (10), 1434 (2022).</li><li>Warmuzi&#324;ska, N., &#321;uczykowski, K., Bojko, B. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Review+of+current+and+emerging+trends+in+donor+graft-quality+assessment+techniques.">Review of current and emerging trends in donor graft-quality assessment techniques.</a> J Clin Med. 11 (3), 487 (2022).</li><li>OuYang, Q., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaluation+of+the+ex+vivo+liver+viability+using+a+nuclear+magnetic+resonance+relaxation+time-based+assay+in+a+porcine+machine+perfusion+model.">Evaluation of the ex vivo liver viability using a nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation time-based assay in a porcine machine perfusion model.</a> Sci Rep. 11 (1), 4117 (2021).</li><li>Sampaziotis, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cholangiocyte+organoids+can+repair+bile+ducts+after+transplantation+in+the+human+liver.">Cholangiocyte organoids can repair bile ducts after transplantation in the human liver.</a> Science. 371 (6531), 839-846 (2021).</li><li>van Leeuwen, O. B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transplantation+of+high-risk+donor+livers+after+ex+situ+resuscitation+and+assessment+using+combined+hypo-+and+normothermic+machine+perfusion:+A+prospective+clinical+trial.">Transplantation of high-risk donor livers after ex situ resuscitation and assessment using combined hypo- and normothermic machine perfusion: A prospective clinical trial.</a> Ann Surg. 270 (5), 906-914 (2019).</li><li>van Leeuwen, O. B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sequential+hypothermic+and+normothermic+machine+perfusion+enables+safe+transplantation+of+high-risk+donor+livers.">Sequential hypothermic and normothermic machine perfusion enables safe transplantation of high-risk donor livers.</a> Am J Transplant. 22 (6), 1658-1670 (2022).</li></ol>

Liver MP is currently extensively utilized in clinical trials, but further preclinical research using large animal models remains necessary5,6. Porcine OLTx presents significant challenges that result in low success rates. These challenges encompass warm ischemia of the donor, anatomical variations, and intolerance to prolonged clamping of the vena cava and portal vein7,8. The implantation phase continues...

Liver transplantation remains the sole curative treatment for end-stage liver disease and selected liver cancers. Despite significant advancements in procurement, preservation, operative techniques, and post-transplant immunosuppression, a notable mortality rate persists among patients on the waiting list due to a shortage of suitable donor organs. A primary challenge lies in preserving livers procured from DCD, as these organs necessitate specialized care to mitigate ischemic injuries1. Ex vivo liver machine perfusion offers a unique method to both preserve and evaluate DCD liver grafts before transplantation2. Clinical trials have underscored the feasibility and safety of ex vivo liver machine perfusion for both standard and expanded criteria donors, employing either hypothermic or normothermic conditions3. Importantly, therapeutic interventions during ex vivo liver machine perfusion have shown promise in reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI)4.
In efforts to extend the preservation duration and enhance the quality of DCD liver grafts, ongoing animal experiments aim to optimize the performance of MP devices and refine the method of ex vivo liver preservation5. Porcine OLTx serves as an optimal model for clinically oriented research, validating the preservative quality of MP. However, ischemic injury to the donor, hemodynamic instability, and intestinal congestion during the anhepatic phase of porcine OLTx collectively impact the survival rate of the porcine model6,7.
A variable temperature-controlled MP device that integrates both NMP and DHOPE modes was utilized to preserve the DCD livers of porcine in the following protocol. This device facilitates extended ex vivo preservation of the DCD livers and alleviates the ischemic injury of the donor liver compared to traditional SCS. The apparatus ensures temperature regulation, supports long-distance transportation, and provides bionic perfusion alongside dynamic and accurate assessment of donor quality. The protocol contains all the information for a stable model of DCD liver preservation utilizing a sequential DHOPE-NMP mode followed by porcine OLTx, including the transition of perfusion settings, optimizing the anastomosis technique, and the procedure of the anhepatic phase.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Anesthesia respirator</td>
			<td>Mindray,Shenzhen</td>
			<td>WATO EX-20&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Automatic biochemical analyzer</td>
			<td>&#160;MNCHIP, China</td>
			<td>&#160;Celercare V5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bama female miniature pigs&#160;</td>
			<td>Pearl Lab Animal Sci &#38; Tech Co,Ltd (Guangdong, China).&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>40-45 kg&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Blood gas analyzer&#160;</td>
			<td>&#160;Abbott</td>
			<td>i-STAT300</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ECG monitor</td>
			<td>Shenzhen Ericon Medical Equipment Co., LTD China</td>
			<td>M-9000S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fully automatic snowflake ice</td>
			<td>Changshu Shenghai Electric Co., Ltd. China</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Perfusate in NMP</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>5% Human serum albumin 100-150 mL, 
			Whole blood 1.2-1.5 L, 
			2.5% NaHCO3 21 mL, 
			10% CaCL2 7mL , 
			Heparin 5000 U , 
			Cefoxltin 1 g, 
			Metronidazole 500 mg, 
			Sodium taurocholate 5 g, 
			Short acting insulin 72 U, 
			Total parenteral nutrition solution 250-500 mL.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potal catheter</td>
			<td>Jinxin technology,Shunde,China</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Portal vein catheter for custom cannula of varying internal diameter (6-8.5 mm)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Refrigeration centrifuge&#160;</td>
			<td>hermo Fisher Scientific - CN</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>The CG8/CG4 blood gas test card</td>
			<td>&#160;Abbott</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>The CHEM 8 test card</td>
			<td>&#160;Abbott</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>The ex vivo liver machine perfuion device</td>
			<td>Devocean Medical Instrument Co., Ltd, Guangdong, China</td>
			<td>DEVOCEAN-LIVER 2000</td>
			<td>This is a multi-mode, temperature-controlled, biomimetic ex vivo liver machine perfusion device, capable of preserving the liver outside the body for 24 h</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>UW Cold Storage solution&#160;&#160;</td>
			<td>Bridge to Life, Ltd., USA</td>
			<td>Belzer UW</td>
			<td>Liver in SCS group were preserved in UW Cold Storage solution&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>UW Machine Perfusion Solution</td>
			<td>Bridge to Life, Ltd., USA</td>
			<td>Belzer MPS</td>
			<td>&#160;Adenine (free base) 0.68 g, 
			Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 0.068 g, 
			Dextrose (+) 1.80 g, 
			Glutathione (reduced) 0.92 g, 
			HEPES (free acid) 2.38 g, 
			Hydroxyethyl Starch 50.0 g, 
			Magnesium Gluconate 1.13 g, 
			Mannitol 5.4 g, 
			Potassium Phosphate (monobasic) 3.4 g, 
			Ribose, D(-) 0.75 g, 
			Sodium Gluconate 17.45 g, 
			Sodium Hydroxide 0.70 g, 
			Sterile Water for Injection To 1000 mL Volume</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vacuum extractor</td>
			<td>SMAF</td>
			<td>DYX-2A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

preservation of porcine donation after circulatory death (dcd) liver by perfusion and orthotopic liver transplantation

Conventional static cold storage (SCS) exacerbates ischemic injury in the DCD liver, leading to severe complications for transplant recipients. To address this issue, clinical application of MP technology for donor liver preservation is underway. Simultaneously, efforts are focused on the development of various MP instruments, validated through relevant animal model experiments. Effective large animal trials play a pivotal role in clinical applications. However, challenges persist in the ex vivo preservation of DCD livers and the transplantation procedure in pigs. These hurdles encompass addressing the prolonged preservation of donor livers, conducting viability tests, alleviating ischemic injuries, and shortening the anhepatic phase. The use of a variable temperature-controlled MP device facilitates the prolonged preservation of DCD livers through sequential Dual Hypothermic Oxygenated Machine Perfusion (DHOPE) and Normothermic Machine Perfusion (NMP) modes. This protocol enhances the porcine OLTx model by improving the quality of DCD livers, optimizing the anastomosis technique, and reducing the duration of the anhepatic phase.

Author Spotlight: Advancements and Challenges in Machine Perfusion for Liver Transplantation

Preservation of Porcine Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) Liver by Perfusion and Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Machine perfusion technology has advanced the preservation of donor liver quality, especially for expanded criteria livers, but continuously pumping oxygen and nutrients via a centrifugal pump and oxygenator, it remains organ activity and monitors liver function, improving preservation time and transportation success rates. The main challenges in using machine perfusion for donor livers are replicating liver conditions with sophisticated equipments and skilled operations. Limitations in post-site DCD liver models includes deterioration in liver quality, storage duration, and a hepatic phase, leading to lower success rates in experimental models.To overcome challenges, we have developed a machine profusion device with variable temperature control, and we find such techniques to extend the liver preservation while minimizing ischemic damage. This advancement enhance the success of our post-site liver transplant model and to promote further preclinical use of machine profusion.

DCD livers underwent a DHOPE-NMP procedure as a protective measure before being transplanted into recipient pigs. The procedure of DHOPE-NMP was as follows: DCD livers (n = 8) with 30 min WIT were preserved in DHOPE for 8 h at the first stage, followed by transfer to NMP mode for another 6 h. Subsequently, these grafts were utilized for LT in porcine recipients. The schematic picture describing the groups and the protocol is shown in Figure 1. The schematic representation of the principal st...

This protocol outlines the methodology of establishing a porcine model utilizing variable temperature-controlled Machine Perfusion (MP) for the preservation of the donor liver, followed by orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx). It aims to promote the success rate of OLTx using donor donation after circulatory death (DCD) liver and establish a stable model.

Conventional static cold storage (SCS) exacerbates ischemic injury in the DCD liver, leading to severe complications for transplant recipients. To address ...

preservation-porcine-donation-after-circulatory-death-dcd-liver