Abstract: Human renal cells are reversibly transformed using Simian Virus 40 to produce an immortal line; the cells proliferate in vitro, serially cultured and the cultured, transformed cells are reverted to somatic phenotype. The cultured cell line serves as a reservoir of fresh cells available for reversion to a somatic phenotype by elevating the temperature. The transformed cells are grown on one face of a perfusion membrane in a renal assist device and reverted. Patient blood is circulated through the device for contacting the reverse face of the perfusion membrane. Molecules in the blood pass through the membrane and into contact with the renal tubule cells. The reverted cells perform various cellular functions on the molecules in the blood, such as waste product removal and metabolic and endocrine functions.

Abstract: An improved extracorporeal liver assist device and method is provided which employs a blood perfusion membrane cultured with initially transformed hepatocytes until a confluent monolayer is developed, whereupon the hepatocytes are reverted to the somatic phenotype for perfusion purposes. Use of transformed hepatocytes permits serial subculturing to maintain a clinical supply of cells for the patient, while the in vitro proliferation characteristics and loss of contact inhibition of the transformed hepatocytes ensures rapid cell division and layer formation on the perfusion membranes. Virally transformed, temperature sensitive hepatocytes are preferred so that reversion of the cells can be accomplished by temperature change. The transformed hepatocytes may be cultured on the exterior surfaces of multiple capillary membrane cartridges, and subsequently reverted by elevating the temperature thereof.

Abstract: An improved extracorporeal liver assist device and method is provided which employs a blood perfusion membrane cultured with initially transformed hepatocytes until a confluent monolayer is developed, whereupon the hepatocytes are reverted to the somatic phenotype for perfusion purposes. Use of transformed hepatocytes permits serial subculturing to maintain a clinical supply of cells for the patient, while the in vitro proliferation characteristics and loss of contact inhibition of the transformed hepatocytes ensures rapid cell division and layer formation on the perfusion membranes. Virally transformed, temperature sensitive hepatocytes are preferred so that reversion of the cells can be accomplished by temperature change. The transformed hepatocytes may be cultured on the exterior surfaces of multiple capillary membrane cartridges, and subsequently reverted by elevating the temperature thereof.