No Evidence for Recipient-Derived Hepatocytes in Serial Biopsies of Sex-Mismatched Liver Transplants

作者：Pilat Nina; Schoppmann Sebastian; Stift Judith; Mazal Peter; Wekerle Thomas; Berlakovich Gabriela A^*

来源：Transplantation, 2012, 94(9): 953-957.

DOI：10.1097/TP.0b013e318269e68d

• Liver transplantation
• Bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells
• Liver regeneration
• Hepatocyte regeneration

Background. Bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells (BM-HSCs) have been shown to act as source for hepatic regeneration in rodent models; however, their ability to participate in human liver regeneration remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the origin of hepatocytes in sex-mismatched cases of orthotopic liver transplantation in longitudinally performed liver biopsies. %26lt;br%26gt;Methods. Paraffin-embedded liver biopsy samples of 14 patients after sex-mismatched (female-to-male) liver transplantation were investigated. Biopsies were taken at multiple time points and subjected to histologic examination. Immunohistochemical staining with a hepatocyte-specific antibody and fluorescent in situ hybridization for visualization of Y chromosomes were performed to analyze the presence of recipient-derived hepatocytes. %26lt;br%26gt;Results. We analyzed 30 liver biopsy samples ranging from 1 week to more than 3 years after transplantation. There was no evidence for recipient-derived hepatocytes in liver transplants at any time point. We were able to detect recipient-specific chromosomal status in inflammatory cells within the liver but not within hepatocytes. Results were independent of liver injury at the time of biopsy, caused by hepatitis C recurrence or rejection episodes. %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusions. Our results show no evidence for involvement of BM-HSCs in liver regeneration after orthotopic liver transplantation. We think that recipient BM-HSC-derived hepatocyte repopulation is a very rare event at best and is not of clinical relevance.

• 出版日期2012-11-15