Functional tissue engineering of autologous tunica albuginea: a possible graft for Peyronie's disease surgery.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to generate a tissue engineered type of mechanically stable graft suitable for surgical replacement of the tunica albuginea penis.


METHODS
Porcine fibroblasts isolated from open fascia biopsies were seeded on decellularized collagen matrices and then cultivated in a bioreactor under continuous multiaxial stress for up to 21 days (n=12). Static cultures without mechanical stress served as controls. Cell proliferation, cell alignment, and de novo synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins (proteoglycans, procollagen I, elastin) in these grafts was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin, pentachrome, and immuno-staining. Additionally, the enzymatic isolation of porcine fibroblasts from X4mm skin punch biopsies (n=8) was evaluated.


RESULTS
Mechanically strained cultures of fibroblasts showed a homogeneous multilayer matrix infiltration and a regular cell alignment in the direction of strain axis after 7 days, as well as a de novo production of extracellular matrix proteins compared to the static control. A large amount of viable fibroblasts was easily obtained from small skin punch biopsies.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that continuous multiaxial stimuli improve proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis of mature fibroblasts reseeded on a biological matrix making this a feasible autologous tissue engineered graft for penile surgery. For the clinical setting fibroblasts harvested from small skin biopsies can be a comfortable cell source.
Schultheiss
Dirk
D
Department of Urology and Pediatirc Urology and Tissue Engineering Network, Hannover Medical School, Germany. schultheiss.dirk@mh-hannover.de
Lorenz
Ralf R
RR
Meister
Roland
R
Westphal
Mareike
M
Gabouev
Alexander I
AI
Mertsching
Heike
H
Biancosino
Christian
C
Schlote
Norbert
N
Wefer
Jörg
J
Winkler
Michael
M
Stief
Christian G
CG
Jonas
Udo
U
D000818:Animals; D019149:Bioreactors; D004867:Equipment Design; D008297:Male; D010411:Penile Induration / Q000601:surgery*; D010413:Penis; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation