HALLE, Germany, Apr 20, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- German scientists say they
have determined the reason transplanted liver cells don't proliferate as well in
older recipients as they do in younger ones.
Researchers at Germany's Martin Luther University said they determined that
while the age of the donor makes no difference, the age of the recipient is
significantly important -- and many humans requiring liver transplantation are
older.
The German study conducted in rats found that older rats had a repopulation rate
of only 2 percent, 10 times less than that seen in younger ones. Furthermore,
the researchers found transplanted cells worked equally well in the old and
young animals, as measured by glycogen storage, but the younger animals had
significantly higher levels of a growth factor needed for proliferation.
Peggy Stock, a post doctoral fellow, said the new study is the first to offer a
possible mechanism for the failure of transplanted hepatocytes to proliferate in
many human patients and it is also the first to suggest a way to compensate for
the problem.
Stock reported the study Sunday in New Orleans during Experimental Biology 2009.
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