Vascular elastic laminae: anti-inflammatory properties and potential applications to arterial reconstruction.
Biomaterials, including non-biodegradable and biodegradable polymers, and collagen and fibrin matrices, have been used in experimental and clinical arterial reconstruction. While these biomaterials exhibit various characteristics suitable for arterial reconstruction, the patency of biomaterial-based arterial substitutes remains problematic because of inflammation and thrombogenesis. Endothelial cell seeding of biomaterials has been proposed and used for reducing the thrombogenicity of biomaterials. However, difficulties in cell retention hamper the application of such an approach. Although autogenous vein grafts offer satisfactory results, not all patients possess veins available for arterial replacements. Thus, a critical issue in arterial reconstruction is developing arterial substitutes that are inflammation/thrombosis-resistant while possessing the characteristics of natural arteries. Here we show that allogenic vascular elastic laminae exhibit anti-inflammatory properties and may be considered a potential material for arterial reconstruction. In this article, we briefly review the composition, structure, and function of vascular elastic laminae, summarize recent discoveries on the role of elastic laminae in regulating leukocyte adhesion and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, and discuss potential applications of allogenic elastic laminae to arterial reconstruction.
Tieche
Christopher
C
Biomedical Engineering Department, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-3107, USA. c-tieche@northwestern.edu
Alkema
Paul K
PK
Liu
Shu Q
SQ
D017130:Angioplasty / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D001808:Blood Vessels; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004549:Elastin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D013927:Thrombosis
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D004549:Elastin