Isolation and culturing of hepatocytes from human livers

Summary Using a modified collagenase digestion procedure, we were successful in the isolation of viable hepatocytes from human liver surgical wastes, unused transplantable livers, and diseased livers from transplant recipients. The modified procedures for isolation involved collagenase perfusion of a sample of limited size (<50 g) with only one cut surface, perfusion via only one blood vessel, the use of an appropriate amount of collagenase, as well as manual massaging of the liver sample during critical stages of the collagenase perfusion. Using this modified procedures, we had close to 100% success rate in the isolation of viable hepatocytes from the human liver samples.