一種利用人肝臟細胞的新系統能夠提供代謝功能，可以用于嚴重肝臟功能衰竭的治療，或者等待肝臟移植患者的治療。

這種體外肝臟輔助支持(ELAD)系統，是由Vital治療公司(San Diego, CA, USA)研制開發的，能夠為嚴重肝衰竭患者提供代謝功能支持，能夠根據肝臟衰竭的類型和嚴重程度為等待移植的患者提供支持治療。該ELAD系統的關鍵是使用受到保護的細胞株C3A，這是一種永生化的細胞株，能夠生長、儲存并在全球范圍內運輸。

這種系統由4個儲存C3A細胞的結構組成，能夠象正常人肝細胞一樣發揮功能，可以代謝毒素清除機體廢物，并將必須蛋白質回輸至血漿中。這些存儲部分能夠被整合入患者床邊泵血系統，持續為患者提供12天的支持。

Liver-Assist Device Utilizes Human Liver Cells
 
A new system based on human liver cells can provide metabolic function and be a bridge to transplant or recovery for patients with severe liver failure.

The extracorporeal liver-assist device (ELAD) system, under development by Vital Therapies (San Diego, CA, USA), provides important metabolic support for patients with severe liver failure, thereby enabling a bridge to recovery or transplant depending on the type and severity of liver failure. The key to the performance of ELAD is its utilization of a proprietary human hepatocyte cell line, C3A, an immortalized cell line that can be grown, stored, and shipped worldwide.

The system is made up of four cartridges containing C3A cells that function like a normal human liver by metabolizing toxins and removing waste products while delivering essential proteins back into the plasma. These cartridges are incorporated into a blood-pumping system at the patient’s bedside and enable continuous patient treatment for up to 12 days.