Development of a novel in situ liver regeneration method combining ALPPS and decellularization technology

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18069
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 55010:General surgery and pediatric surgery-related
• Research Institution: University of Miyazaki (2020-2021); Keio University (2019)
• Principal Investigator: Kuroda Kohei 宮崎大学, 農学部, 助教 (20825400)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 生体内脱細胞化 / ALPPS / ECM

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to develop a new technique to utilize a part of the liver as a scaffold structure for the cellular exoskeleton in the body by applying a recently developed new technique, the two-stage hepatectomy with liver regeneration (ALPPS), in order to realize efficient liver regenerative medicine. We established ALPPS using pigs and succeeded in controlling the circulation of cell washing reagents locally by a technique in which the left portal vein branch is secured, surfactant is perfused, and the waste fluid is drained out of the body through the left hepatic vein. The technique also succeeded in recirculating blood by suturing the vasculature after decellularization, proving that decellularization can be performed in vivo with the structure maintained.

Free Research Field

生体組織工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで脱細胞化に関する研究は、生体外で脱細胞化臓器に細胞を生着させ人工臓器を作出するといったコンセプトのものが大半であった。生体外で作製された臓器は移植手術が必要な点や臓器のサイズ等の問題が存在した。一方、自己の臓器を使用する場合には、これらの問題が解決されるだけでなく、免疫拒絶の心配がなく、異種移植のような安全面や倫理的な問題も存在しない。今回確立した生体内脱細胞化手法は、まだまだ不十分な点は多くさらなる検討は必要であるが、生体外で作出する人工臓器が抱える問題を一気に解決しうる、新しい肝再生技術基盤の足がけとなることが想定される。