title: Stem cells accumulate on a decellularized arterial xenograft in vivo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical interest in complete arterial revascularization is expanding, but some patients lack suitable conduits for this goal. The field of stem cell biology is rapidly expanding and, together with the concepts of tissue engineering, offers the promise of growing autologous grafts in the laboratory. We aim to develop a model using human arteries as vascular grafts in a murine model and to assess the cellular accumulation on these grafts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human arterial samples were collected and decellularized using an ionic detergent. These vessel scaffolds were then used as grafts in an in vivo mouse model, and the cellular accumulation on them was examined histologically and by cell culture with assessment of their physiologic properties.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Left internal mammary artery branches were fully decellularized and successfully implanted into a murine model. Grafts were repopulated by cells expressing stem cell markers cluster of differentiation 34 and stage-specific embryonic antigen, and subsequently expressed markers of mature endothelial and smooth muscle cells (cluster of differentiation 31, calponin, and myosin heavy chain). The migratory capacity of the cultured cells was significantly higher than that of mouse smooth muscle cells (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We describe the successful use of human arteries in a murine graft model, allowing the study of repopulation. Decellularized grafts are repopulated by cells expressing stem cell markers and subsequently express smooth muscle and endothelial cell markers. This model has the potential to be used for further development of laboratory-grown vascular grafts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, St. George's Hospital, University of London, London, United Kingdom; British Heart Foundation Centre of Excellence, James Black Centre, King's College, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Siôn G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: British Heart Foundation Centre of Excellence, James Black Centre, King's College, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Yanhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: British Heart Foundation Centre of Excellence, James Black Centre, King's College, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Qingbo
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, St. George's Hospital, University of London, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: marjan.jahangiri@stgeorges.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jahangiri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D001158:Arteries / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34