Construction of tissue-engineered lymphatic vessel using human adipose derived stem cells differentiated lymphatic endothelial like cells and decellularized arterial scaffold: A preliminary study.

We have previously demonstrated that human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) can be differentiated into lymphatic endothelial like cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of utilizing the induced lymphatic endothelial like cells and decellularized arterial scaffold to construct the tissue-engineered lymphatic vessel. The hADSCs were isolated from adipose tissue in healthy adults and were characterized the multilineage differentiation potential. Decellularized arterial scaffold was prepared using the Triton x-100 method. ADSCs were differentiated into lymphatic-like endothelial cells, and the induced cells were then seeded onto the decellularized arterial scaffold to engineer the lymphatic vessel. The histological analyses were performed to examine the endothelialized construct. The decellularized arterial scaffold was successfully obtained and was able to maintain its vessel morphology. The isolated ADSCs can be differentiated into osteocytes and adipocytes. After seeding onto the scaffold, the seeded cells attached and grew well on the decellularized arterial scaffold. Our preliminary results demonstrated that the induced lymphatic endothelial like cells combined with decellularized arterial scaffold could be utilized to successfully engineer the lymphatic vessel. Our findings may be helpful for the development of tissue-engineering of the lymphatic graft.