Immobilized DNA aptamers used as potent attractors for porcine endothelial precursor cells.
Because of their insufficient biocompatibility and high thrombogenicity, small diameter artificial vascular prostheses still do not show a satisfactory patency rate. In vitro endothelialization of artificial grafts before implantation has been established experimentally years ago, but, this procedure is extremely time consuming and expensive. This study deals with the coating of graft surfaces with capture molecules (aptamers) for circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), mimicking a prohoming substrate to fish out EPCs from the bloodstream after implantation and to create an autologous functional endothelium. Using the SELEX technology, aptamers with a high affinity to EPCs were identified, isolated, and grafted onto polymeric discs using a blood compatible star-PEG coating. A porcine in vitro model that demonstrates the specific adhesion of EPCs and their differentiation into vital endothelial-like cells within 10 days in cell culture is presented. We suggest that the rapid adhesion of EPCs to aptamer-coated implants could be useful to promote endothelial wound healing and to prevent increased neointimal hyperplasia. We hypothesize that future in vivo self-endothelialization of blood contacting implants by homing factor mimetic capture molecules for EPCs may bring revolutionary new perspectives towards clinical applications of stem cell and tissue engineering strategies.
Hoffmann
Jan
J
Department of Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
Paul
Angela
A
Harwardt
Marc
M
Groll
Jürgen
J
Reeswinkel
Thomas
T
Klee
Doris
D
Moeller
Martin
M
Fischer
Heike
H
Walker
Tobias
T
Greiner
Tim
T
Ziemer
Gerhard
G
Wendel
Hans P
HP
D000818:Animals; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001665:Binding Sites; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D052156:SELEX Aptamer Technique; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine
D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1