Formation of a functional endothelium on vascular grafts.
The lack of a functional endothelial cell lining on artificial polymeric vascular grafts severely reduces their effectiveness in replacing small caliber (less than 6 mm) blood vessels. Techniques have now been developed to transplant autologous endothelial cells from one site in the body onto the surface of grafts prior to implantation. Pre-clinical animal trials provide evidence that grafts sodded with autologous, fat-derived, microvessel endothelial cells exhibit a stable, antithrombogenic lining of endothelium. The new endothelial cell lining exhibits morphologies identical with endothelium on native blood vessels. The effectiveness of endothelial cell sodding techniques in pre-clinical animal trials provides support for expanded clinical trials.
Williams
S K
SK
Department of Surgery, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107.
Schneider
T
T
Kapelan
B
B
Jarrell
B E
BE
D000818:Animals; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000379:methods*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron