Bioengineered human vascular networks transplanted into secondary mice reconnect with the host vasculature and re-establish perfusion.
The ability to form anastomoses with the host circulation is essential for vascular networks incorporated within cell-seeded bioengineered tissues. Here, we tested whether and how rapidly human endothelial colony forming cell (ECFC)/mesenchymal progenitor cell (MPC)-derived bioengineered vessels, originally perfused in one mouse, could become reperfused in a secondary mouse. Using in vivo labeling with a systemically injected mixture of human- and murine-specific lectins, we demonstrate that ECFC/MPC blood vessels reconnect and are perfused at day 3 after transplantation. Furthermore, we quantified the longitudinal change in perfusion volume in the same implants before and after transplantation using contrast-enhanced micro-ultrasonic imaging. Perfusion was restored at day 3 after transplantation and increased with time, suggesting an important new feature of ECFC/MPC blood vessels: the bioengineered vessels can reconnect with the vasculature when transplanted to a new site. This feature extends the potential applications of this postnatal progenitor cell-based technology for transplantable large tissue-engineered constructs.
Vascular Biology Program and Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Kyu-Tae
KT
Kang
Patrick
P
Allen
Joyce
J
Bischoff
D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen; D004338:Drug Combinations; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007797:Laminin; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011509:Proteoglycans; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014463:Ultrasonography
D004338:Drug Combinations; D007797:Laminin; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D011509:Proteoglycans; C059485:matrigel; D003094:Collagen