Tissue-Engineered Grafts Constructed Using Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Vascular Acellular Matrices

摘要

Our goal was to construct novel tissue-engineered blood vessels by using rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and vascular acellular matrices, and to investigate their biocompatibility and patency rates. Isolated and cultured MSCs from rabbits were seeded on decellularized scaffolds. Thirty-six rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: tissue-engineered, vascular acellular matrix, and allogeneic artery groups. A 1-cm section of the abdominal aorta was sheared and a vessel from each group was transplanted onto the sheared region. Three months after implantation, the patency rates were 90% and 80% for the tissue-engineered and vascular acellular matrix groups, respectively, which were superior to that of the allogeneic artery group (25%). Hematoxylin and eosin staining and scanning electron microscopy showed that internal, middle, and external membranes were clearly present in the tissue-engineered group; the membrane morphology was similar to that of a normal artery, and endothelial cells were covered completely. However, the endothelial cells were not covered completely in the vascular acellular matrix group. Moreover, mural thrombosis, mild proliferation of intima, and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed. The intima was thickened and necrotic in the allogeneic artery group, whereas lumens were stenotic and accompanied by a certain degree of thrombus organization.