Partner: J. Motyl


Recent publications
1.Pluta K.D., Samluk A., Wencel A., Zakrzewska K.E., Gora M., Burzynska B., Ciezkowska M., Motyl J., Pijanowska D.G., Genetically modified C3A cells with restored urea cycle for improved bioartificial liver, Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, ISSN: 0208-5216, DOI: 10.1016/j.bbe.2019.12.006, Vol.40, No.1, pp.378-387, 2020
Abstract:

The bioartificial liver, a hybrid device aimed at improving the survival of patients with fulminant liver failure, requires a cell source to replicate human liver function. However, liver support systems that utilize porcine or human hepatoma-derived cells felt short of expectations in clinical trials. Here we present engineered C3A cells, with a restored function of the urea cycle, which can be used in an efficacious bioartificial liver. The genetic modification was performed using a lentiviral-mediated gene transfer which led to effective integration of the transgenes, coding for arginase I and ornithine transcarbamylase, into the target cell genomes. The engineered cells are more resistant to the oxidative/nitrosative stress induced by the presence of high concentrations of ammonia cations and produce more urea than their unmodified counterparts. Interestingly, the genetically modified cells secrete more albumin than control C3A cells and the synthesis of the protein is induced by increasing concentrations of ammonia. Although the physiological capabilities of the new cell line need to be further examined, at this stage of our study we may conclude that the genetically modified cells are able to convert ammonia to urea more effectively than regular C3A cells.

Keywords:

bioartificial liver, genetically modified cells, lentiviral vectors, urea cycle

Affiliations:
Pluta K.D.-Nałęcz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences (PL)
Samluk A.-Nałęcz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences (PL)
Wencel A.-Nałęcz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences (PL)
Zakrzewska K.E.-IPPT PAN
Gora M.-other affiliation
Burzynska B.-other affiliation
Ciezkowska M.-other affiliation
Motyl J.-other affiliation
Pijanowska D.G.-Nałęcz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences (PL)