Download PDF
Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2001; 49(4): 204-209
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-16108
Original Cardiovascular
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

In Vitro Modelling of Tissue using Isolated Vascular Cells on a Synthetic Collagen Matrix as a Substitute for Heart Valves

M. Rothenburger1 , P. Vischer2 , W. Völker2 , B. Glasmacher3 , E. Berendes4 , H. H. Scheld1 , M. Deiwick1
  • 1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
  • 2Institute of Arteriosclerosis Research, University Hospital, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
  • 3Institute of Biomedical Technology, Helmholtz Institute, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule, Aachen, Germany
  • 4Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care, University Hospital, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

    Permissions and Reprints All articles of this category

Background: Tissue engineering is a promising approach for obtaining lifetime durability in biological heart valves. Basic questions with respect to the selection of suitable cell populations as well as scaffolds remain unsolved. The purpose of this study was to develop a tissue-like substitute in vitro for replacement of diseased valves in vivo. Methods: Smooth-muscle cells (SMCs) were isolated from human and porcine aortic tissue using the ‘explant technique’ and endothelial cells from collagenase digestion. Seeding and cultivation of isolated cells was performed on a type-I collagen matrix. The scaffold-cell specimen was investigated using light and electron microscopy. Cupromeronic blue and immunoprecipitation were used for ultracytochemical staining. Results: SMCs were allowed to grow to multilayers and migrate into the collagen network. We found a tissue-like morphology in these samples characterised by several layers of cells, spaces between the cell layers filled with newly formed extracellular matrix components, compartmentalisation of proteoglycans and their association with fibrilar matrix and the cell surface. Endothelium cells covered the SMCs of the scaffold with a histological topography similar to heart valves. Conclusions: This is an approach for in vitro modelling of tissue-like substitutes and preparing plane multicellular tissues as substitutes for heart valves. This model may also be used for cell biological investigations of cell-matrix interactions.

Key words:

Tissue engineering - Heart valve - Collagen scaffold - Glycosaminoglycans - Extracellular matrix - Proteoglycans

References

  • 1 Carabello B A, Crawford F A. Valvular heart disease.  N Engl J Med. 1997;  337 32-41
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Vongpatanasin W, Hillis D, Lange R A. Prosthetic heart valves.  N Engl J Med. 1996;  335 407-416
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Jamieson W R. Modern cardiac valve devices -bioprostheses and mechanical prostheses: State of the art.  J Cardiac Surg. 1993;  8 89-98
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Cannegieter S C, Rosendaal F R, Briet E. Thromboembolic and bleeding complications in patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses.  Circ. 1994;  89 635-641
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Sodian R, Hoerstrup S P, Sperling J S, Daebritz S H, Martin D P, Schoen F J, Vacanti J P, Mayer J E. Tissue engineering of heart valves: in vitro experiences.  Ann Thorac Surg. 2000;  70 140-144
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Sodian R, Hoerstrup S P, Sperling J S, Martin D P, Daebritz S, Mayer J E, Vacanti J P. Evaluation of biodegradable, three-dimensional matrices for tissue engineering of heart valves.  ASAIO Journal. 2000;  46 107-110
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Shinoka T, Breuer C, Tanel R E, Zund G, Miura T, Ma P X, Langer R, Vacanti J P, Mayer J E. Tissue engineering heart valves: valve leaflet replacement study in a lamb model.  Ann Thorac Surg. 1995;  60 S 513-516
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Taylor P M, Allen S P, Yacoub M H. Phenotypic and functional characterization of interstitial cells from human heart valves, pericardium and skin.  J of Heart Valve Disease. 2000;  9 150-158
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Schoof H, Bruns L, Apel J, Heschel I, Rau G. Einfluß des Einfriervorganges auf die Porenstruktur gefriergetrockneter Kollagenschwämme.  DKV-Berichte. 1997;  24 (Band III) 40-57
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Vischer P, Buddecke E. Alteration of glycosyltransferase activities during proliferation of cultivated arterial endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells.  Exp Cell Res. 1985;  158 15-28
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Schön P, Vischer P, Völker W, Schmidt A, Faber V. Cell-associated proteoheparan sulfate mediates binding and uptake of thrombospondin in cultured porcine vascular endothelial cells.  Eur J Cell Biol. 1992;  59 329-339
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Völker W. Cytochemical characterization and mapping of glycoconjugates in arterial tissues and vascular cell cultures by light and electron microscopy. In: H. Robenek, NJ. Servers (eds.) Cell Interactions In Artherosclerosis. CRC Press, Boca Raton 1992: 181-206
    Google Scholar
  • 13 Völker W, Schmidt A, Buddecke E. Compartmentation and characterization of different proteoglycans in bovine arterial wall.  J Histochem Cytochem. 1986;  34 1293-1299
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Völker W, Schmidt A, Buddecke E. Mapping of proteoglycans in human arterial tissue.  Eur J Cell Biol. 1987;  45 72-79
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Vischer P, Buddecke E. Different action of heparin and fucoidan on arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation and thrombospondin and fibronectin metabolism.  Eur J Cell Biol. 1991;  56 407-414
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Hammermeister K E, Sethi G K, Henderson W G, Oprian C, Kim T, Rahimtoola S. A comparison of outcomes in men 11 years after heart-valve replacement with a mechanical valve or bioprosthesis.  N Engl J Med. 1993;  18 1289-1296
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Shoen F J, Levy R J. Tissue heart valves: current challenges and future research perspectives. Founder's Award, Twenty-fifth Annual Meeting of the Society for Biomaterials, Providence, RJ. 1999; April 28 - May 2
    Google Scholar
  • 18 McGiffin D C, Galbraith A J, O'Brien M F, McLachlan G J, Naftel D C, Adams P, Reddy S, Early L. An analysis of valve re-replacement after aortic valve replacement with biologic devices.  J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1997;  113 311-318
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Schoen F J, Levy R J, Piehler H R. Pathological considerations in replacement cardiac valves.  Cardiovasc Pathol. 1992;  1 29-52
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Miller D C. Predictors of outcome in patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) and potential advantages of homograft aortic root replacement for prosthetic ascending aortic valve-graft infections.  J Cardiac Surg. 1990;  5 53-62
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Rajani B, Mee R B, Ratliff N B. Evidence for rejection of homografts cardiac valves in infants.  J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1998;  115 111-117
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Shum-Tim D, Stock U, Hrkach J, Shinoka T, Lien J, Moses M A, Stamp A, Taylor G, Moran A M, Landis W, Langer R, Vacanti J P, Mayer J E. Tissue engineering of autologous aorta using a new biodegradable polymer.  Ann Thorac Surg. 1999;  68 2298-2305
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Mayer J E, Shinoka T, Shum-Tim D. Tissue engineering of cardiovascular structures.  Current Opinion in Cardiology. 1997;  12 528-532
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Zund G, Ye S, Hoerstrup S P, Schoeberlein A, Schmid A C, Grunenfelder J, Vogt P, Turina M. Tissue engineering in cardiovascular surgery: MTT, a rapid and reliable quantitative method to assess the optimal human cell seeding on polymeric meshes.  Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 1999;  15 519-524
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Ye Q, Zund G, Jockenhoevel S, Hoerstrup S P, Schoeberlein A, Grunenfelder J, Turina M. Tissue engineering in cardiovascular surgery: new approach to develop completely human autologous tissue.  Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2000;  17 449-454
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Ishihora T, Ferrans V J, Jones M, Boyce S W, Kawanami O, Robert W C. Histologic and ultrastructural features of normal human parietal pericardium.  Am J Cardiol. 1980;  46 744-753
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Juliano R L, Haskill S. Signal transduction from the extracellular matrix.  J Cell Biol. 1993;  120 577-585
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar

M. D. Markus Rothenburger

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
University Hospital Muenster
University of Muenster

Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33

48129 Muenster

Germany

Phone: +49-251-83-47401

Fax: +49-251-83-48316

Email: markus.rothenburger@thgms.uni-muenster.de

      >