BACKGROUND: Heart valve tissue engineering represents a concept for improving the current methods of valvular heart disease therapy. The aim of this study was to develop tissue engineered heart valves combining human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and decellularized human heart valve matrices. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pulmonary (n=9) and aortic (n=6) human allografts were harvested from explanted hearts from heart transplant recipients and were decellularized using a detergent-based cell extraction method. Analysis of decellularization success was performed with light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and quantitative analysis of collagen and elastin content. The decellularization method resulted in full removal of native cells while the mechanical stability and the quantitative composition of the neoscaffolds was maintained. The luminal surface of the human matrix could be successfully recellularized with in vitro expanded HUVECs under dynamic flow conditions. The surface appeared as a confluent cell monolayer of positively labeled cells for von Willebrand factor and CD 31, indicating their endothelial nature. CONCLUSIONS: Human heart valves can be decellularized by the described method. Recellularization of the human matrix resulted in the formation of a confluent HUVEC monolayer. The in vitro construction of tissue-engineered heart valves based on decellularized human matrices followed by endothelialization using HUVECs is a feasible and safe method, leading to the development of future clinical strategies in the treatment of heart valve disease.
BACKGROUND: Heart valve tissue engineering represents a concept for improving the current methods of valvular heart disease therapy. The aim of this study was to develop tissue engineered heart valves combining human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and decellularized human heart valve matrices. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pulmonary (n=9) and aortic (n=6) human allografts were harvested from explanted hearts from heart transplant recipients and were decellularized using a detergent-based cell extraction method. Analysis of decellularization success was performed with light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and quantitative analysis of collagen and elastin content. The decellularization method resulted in full removal of native cells while the mechanical stability and the quantitative composition of the neoscaffolds was maintained. The luminal surface of the human matrix could be successfully recellularized with in vitro expanded HUVECs under dynamic flow conditions. The surface appeared as a confluent cell monolayer of positively labeled cells for von Willebrand factor and CD 31, indicating their endothelial nature. CONCLUSIONS:Human heart valves can be decellularized by the described method. Recellularization of the human matrix resulted in the formation of a confluent HUVEC monolayer. The in vitro construction of tissue-engineered heart valves based on decellularized human matrices followed by endothelialization using HUVECs is a feasible and safe method, leading to the development of future clinical strategies in the treatment of heart valve disease.
Authors: Thilo Storm; Katharina Wulf; Michael Teske; Marian Löbler; Günther Kundt; Frank Luderer; Klaus-Peter Schmitz; Katrin Sternberg; Marina Hovakimyan Journal: J Mater Sci Mater Med Date: 2014-05-09 Impact factor: 3.896
Authors: Liezl Rae Balaoing; Allison Davis Post; Adam Yuh Lin; Hubert Tseng; Joel L Moake; K Jane Grande-Allen Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-06-19 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Henrik Bäcker; Livia Polgár; Pal Soós; Eszter Lajkó; Orsolya Láng; Bela Merkely; Gabor Szabó; Pascal M Dohmen; Alexander Weymann; Laszlo Kőhidai Journal: Med Sci Monit Date: 2017-05-11
Authors: Paola Lanuti; Francesco Serafini; Laura Pierdomenico; Pasquale Simeone; Giuseppina Bologna; Eva Ercolino; Sara Di Silvestre; Simone Guarnieri; Carlo Canosa; Gianna Gabriella Impicciatore; Stella Chiarini; Francesco Magnacca; Maria Addolorata Mariggiò; Assunta Pandolfi; Marco Marchisio; Gabriele Di Giammarco; Sebastiano Miscia Journal: Biores Open Access Date: 2015-06-01
Authors: Alexander Weymann; Tamás Radovits; Bastian Schmack; Sevil Korkmaz; Shiliang Li; Nicole Chaimow; Ines Pätzold; Peter Moritz Becher; István Hartyánszky; Pál Soós; Gergő Merkely; Balázs Tamás Németh; Roland Istók; Gábor Veres; Béla Merkely; Konstantin Terytze; Matthias Karck; Gábor Szabó Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-07-31 Impact factor: 3.240