The effects of cryopreservation on human hepatocytes obtained from different sources of liver tissue

Successful cryopreservation of human hepatocytes is important to establish hepatocyte banks for clinical use or in vitro research. The availability of donor tissue from unused liver segments/lobes and non-heart-beating donors (NHBD) has provided newer sources of hepatocytes. The quality of hepatocytes at the time of cryopreservation is important as cells isolated from liver tissue of borderline quality may not withstand the stresses associated with cryopreservation and subsequent thawing. Human hepatocytes were cryopreserved after isolation from mainly donor tissues (n = 40). In vitro assessment of the viability and function of the fresh and thawed cryopreserved hepatocytes was performed. Viability, attachment efficiency, enzyme activity, and albumin production of hepatocytes were all significantly decreased, and LDH leakage significantly increased, on thawing after cryopreservation. The viability of cryopreserved hepatocytes isolated from tissue rejected for orthotopic liver transplantation (36 ± 15%) was significantly lower than those isolated from tissue where part was used for liver transplantation (47 ± 14%, p = 0.002), but there were no significant differences in functional parameters. The viability of cryopreserved hepatocytes isolated from NHBD tissue (29 ± 9%, p = 0.001) and from steatotic donor tissue (35 ± 11%, p = 0.019) was significantly lower than those isolated from normal donor tissue (49 ± 14%). There was no difference in functional parameters, except for albumin production of hepatocytes from NHBD tissue (2.9 ± 1.0 μg/h/mg protein) being significantly lower than those from normal donor tissue (4.8 ± 2.8 μg/h/mg protein, p = 0.03). The viability and attachment efficiency of cryopreserved hepatocytes isolated from liver tissue from resections for tumors was significantly higher, and the LDH leakage significantly lower, than those isolated from all donor tissue. Hepatocytes isolated from NHBD and steatotic tissue were more vulnerable to the effects of cryopreservation. Further research is required to improve hepatocyte isolation and cryopreservation protocols for different types of liver tissue.