title: In vivo recellularization of plain decellularized xenografts with specific cell characterization in the systemic circulation: histological and immunohistochemical study.
abstract: Decellularized biological scaffolds have been used for the tissue engineering of heart valves with good results in the pulmonary circulation. However, little information is available on the recellularization of plain decellularized biological scaffolds in the systemic circulation. The aim of this study was to determine whether plain decellularized xenografts (PDXs) can recellularize with specific cell characterization in the systemic circulation. The xenogenic aortic valved conduit grafts of rabbits were implanted in the abdominal aorta of dogs after decellularization. The grafts were explanted at 4, 12, or 24 weeks after implantation for histological, immunohistochemical examination, scanning electron microscope, and Western blot analysis. Although the valvular structures were completely lost after implantation, supravalvular conduits showed normal shapes and endothelialization. The PDXs were repopulated with basic vascular cell components in approximate natural proportions without immunological responses. The PDXs had been recellularized with specific cell characterization in the systemic circulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan. kazu1013@med.kurumeu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukunaga
authors.forename: Akinori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishi
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shojima
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Hidetsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akashi
authors.forename: Shigeaki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aoyagi
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011817:Rabbits; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D014746:Vimentin; D003094:Collagen