Hepatocyte Transplantation Through the Hepatic Vein: A New Route of Cell Transplantation to the Liver

The efficiency of hepatocyte transplantation into the liver varies with the method of administration. This study investigated whether retrograde infusion via the hepatic vein provides a sufficient number of donor cells for the liver. Donor hepatocytes were isolated from dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV+) rats and transplanted into DPPIV- rat livers either by antegrade portal vein infusion or retrograde hepatic vein infusion. Hepatocyte engraftment ratios and localization were evaluated by histological DPPIV enzymatic staining at 1 week and 8 weeks after the transplantation. No significant differences in engraftment efficiency were observed at either 1 week or 8 weeks after transplantation by either route. However, the localization of the transplanted hepatocytes differed with the administration route. Portal vein infusion resulted in predominantly periportal engraftment, whereas hepatic vein infusion led to pericentral zone engraftment. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the transplanted hepatocytes engrafted in the pericentral zone after retrograde infusion displayed intense CYP2E1 staining similar to the surrounding native hepatocytes. CYP2E1 staining was further enhanced by administration of isosafrole, an inducing agent for various cytochrome P450 enzymes, including CYP2E1. This study demonstrates a novel approach of transplanting hepatocytes into the liver through retrograde hepatic vein infusion as the means to target cell implantation to the pericentral zone.