title: Dermal fibroblasts cultured on small intestinal submucosa: Conditions for the formation of a neotissue.
abstract: Small intestinal submucosa (SIS) is a naturally occurring, acellular biomaterial that has been used extensively as a soft tissue replacement, as a scaffold for tissue engineering, and as a substrate for the study of cells in 3D culture. The aim of this study is to define culture parameters that promote neotissue formation with the use of dermal fibroblasts and SIS. SIS sheets were seeded with dermal fibroblasts and cultured for 4 weeks. The resultant cell-scaffold composites (CSCs) were cultured with media alone, media supplemented with ascorbic acid, or fibronectin-pretreated SIS and ascorbic acid. CSCs were analyzed for cellular invasion into the scaffold, the rate of type I collagen production, MMP gelatinolytic activity, thickness, and ultrastructural morphology. CSCs treated with fibronectin and ascorbate showed an increase in Type I collagen production, no change in the MMP gelatinolytic activity, an increase in CSC thickness, and an organized neotissue on the surface of the SIS. Minimal cellular invasion was noted, suggesting that fibroblasts use the SIS as a template for neotissue growth rather than as a scaffold. These results indicate that fibronectin-treated SIS cultured with dermal fibroblasts in the presence of ascorbic acid will promote true neotissue formation for future cardiovascular tissue engineering efforts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C1.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cimini
authors.forename: Derek R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Boughner
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ronald
authors.forename: Danielle E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Kem A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003470:Culture Media; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D003470:Culture Media; D005353:Fibronectins; D001205:Ascorbic Acid