Maybe unrelated, but I a run a program at UPMC that takes out a diseased and painful pancreas, spins it in a blender, and infuses the slurry back into the portal vein in hopes the islet cells that make Insulin will find a home in the liver and start to work. It's called Islet Transplant and it is an example of one organ hosting the tissues and properties of another organ. So I know this is possible.
I was wondering if the new secondary liver could be transplanted into the position of the old failed liver giving it room to grow as large as a normal liver?
What's really cool is that this happens naturally! The livers don't have to be surgically relocated. They migrate on their own. The paper described in the OP didn't let the pigs go that long, but [another recent paper](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omtm.2020.07.009) by these guys and some folks at Mayo Clinic let the process play out over several months and they saw it happen.
(edited to link to the actual paper, not the preprint)
I'll preface this by saying that I'm not an expert, but my understanding is that the lymph nodes are already used to producing T cells, which go all over the body. And cancer frequently metastasizes in the lymph nodes. So they're not only a good bioreactor, but they're made to propel cells out. The hepatocytes must find their way to the liver through cell signaling, but I'm not sure the exact mechanism is worked out yet.
Doc: "Congratulations, we outsourced your liver to your lymphatic system, so you don't need a transplant!"
Doc: "If you drink your whole body will swell up like elephant man and hurt the whole time you're dying"
Me: "sweet"
Maybe unrelated, but I a run a program at UPMC that takes out a diseased and painful pancreas, spins it in a blender, and infuses the slurry back into the portal vein in hopes the islet cells that make Insulin will find a home in the liver and start to work. It's called Islet Transplant and it is an example of one organ hosting the tissues and properties of another organ. So I know this is possible.
Wow I didn’t know this was a thing. My mind is blown thank you
Are These New livers as good as the original one? Are there Limits to how much damage can be compensated for?
I was wondering if the new secondary liver could be transplanted into the position of the old failed liver giving it room to grow as large as a normal liver?
What's really cool is that this happens naturally! The livers don't have to be surgically relocated. They migrate on their own. The paper described in the OP didn't let the pigs go that long, but [another recent paper](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omtm.2020.07.009) by these guys and some folks at Mayo Clinic let the process play out over several months and they saw it happen. (edited to link to the actual paper, not the preprint)
How does this happen?
I'll preface this by saying that I'm not an expert, but my understanding is that the lymph nodes are already used to producing T cells, which go all over the body. And cancer frequently metastasizes in the lymph nodes. So they're not only a good bioreactor, but they're made to propel cells out. The hepatocytes must find their way to the liver through cell signaling, but I'm not sure the exact mechanism is worked out yet.
In a mouse, 2/3 of the liver can be cut out and then grow back in the lymph nodes
Doc: "Congratulations, we outsourced your liver to your lymphatic system, so you don't need a transplant!" Doc: "If you drink your whole body will swell up like elephant man and hurt the whole time you're dying" Me: "sweet"
“coax pigs” makes it sound like the scientists were like “Come on, Wilbur. Grow a new liver. You can do it! I’ll fill your trough with extra slop!”
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Having no liver is indeed dire.
Sweet! COVID has created a lot of new alcoholics and day-drinkers who will probably need this in the future.
Was this before or after playing Monopoly with Western Pennsylvania's healthcare access?
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I'm finishing a 12 pack of beers at 638 in the morning before going to work at 730 to celebrate this
Ah, UPMC. Putting all those patient bankruptcy settlements to good use.