Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2024; 72(S 01): S1-S68
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1780600
Sunday, 18 February
Alles rund um Herzklappenchirurgie

Removal of Xenoantigens Using NaOH-Based Decellularization of Porcine Pulmonary Heart Valves

Authors

  • R. Ramm

    1   Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Deutschland
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    Background: For pediatric patients and young adults suffering from heart valve disease, decellularized allogeneic heart valves are the best option. Such implants offer outstanding durability and growth potential, however number of adequately sized human donor heart valves is limited. To overcome that hurdle animal derived heart valves could be used. Decellularization of pig heart valves is feasible and results in heart valves exhibiting similar durability and growth capabilities when tested in sheep. However, due to the present of antigens that are recognized upon implantation into humans, decellularized porcine heart valves failed in clinical practice so far. Here we report the application of sodium hydroxide for decellularization and investigated the removal of xenoantigens.

    Methods: Pulmonary and aortic heart valves from German Landrace (wt) were decellularized with 1M NaOH/ 7% NaCl alone or in combination with Trypsin/EDTA + Triton X-100. The extend of cell removal was measured applying biochemical assays as well as standard histology. Tensile testing was performed according to standard procedure. The amount of αGal, the most prominent xenoantigen was quantified using inhibition ELISA. Furthermore, xenoreactivity of decellularized porcine heart valves was analyzed using sera of animal exposed to pig heart valves.

    Results: Efficient decellularization of porcine pulmonary heart valves was achieved after 4 hours exposure to NaOH as well as after 90 min. Trypsin/EDTA, 48 h Triton X-100 and 1h NaOH. Biomechanical stability was well preserved. The amount of αGal as well as xenoreactivity of porcine pulmonary heart valves was reduced to the level of GGTA1-KO pigs.

    Conclusion: Decellularization of porcine pulmonary heart valves using NaOH resulted in heart valve prosthesis exhibiting dramatically reduced xenoreactivity.


     

    No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

    Publication History

    Article published online:
    13 February 2024

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