Immunologic response to liver cell allografts.

Hepatocyte transplantation is one modality that has been suggested for providing temporary hepatic support during periods of liver regeneration following acute hepatic failure. Although liver cells have been successfully transplanted in the rat, transplantation in a larger model is necessary before these techniques can be applied clinically. This study attempts to define the immunologic response of the canine recipients to intrasplenic hepatocyte allografts. Our results indicate that canine hepatocytes are highly immunogenic, initiating a host response which destroyed the allograft within one week post-transplantation (survival range 1-6 days, mean +/- SD = 3.33 +/- 1.86 days). Administration of azathioprine post-transplantation significantly (P less than 0.01) extended the survival of the hepatocyte allografts (survival range 3-9 days, mean +/- SD = 5.66 +/- 2.16 days. However, long-term survival was not seen using this type of minimal immunosuppression. Histologic observation also confirmed these findings. Based on these results, therefore, caution is recommended prior to the application of hepatocyte transplantation to the clinical setting.