Endovascular biopsy: Technical feasibility of novel endothelial cell harvesting devices assessed in a rabbit aneurysm model.
The lack of safe and reliable methods to sample vascular tissue in situ limits discovery of the underlying genetic and pathophysiological mechanisms of many vascular disorders, including aneurysms. We investigated the feasibility and comparable efficacy of in vivo vascular endothelial cell sampling using a spectrum of endovascular devices. Using the rabbit elastase carotid aneurysm model we evaluated the performance of existing aneurysmal coils, intracranial stents, and stent-like devices to collect vascular endothelial cells. Additionally, we modified a subset of devices to assess the effects of alterations to coil pitch, coil wire contour, and stent surface finishing. Device performance was evaluated by (1) the number of viable endothelial cells harvested, (2) the degree of vascular wall damage analyzed using digital subtraction angiography and histopathological analysis, and (3) the ease of device navigability and retrieval. Isolated cells underwent immunohistochemical analysis to confirm cell type and viability. Coil and stent specifications, technique, and endothelial cell counts were tabulated and statistical analysis performed. Using conventional detachable-type and modified aneurysm coils 11 of 14 (78.6%) harvested endothelial cells with a mean of 7.93 (±8.33) cells/coil, while 15 of 15 (100%) conventional stents, stent-like devices and modified stents harvested endothelial cells with a mean of 831.33 (±887.73) cells/device. Coil stiffness was significantly associated with endothelial cell count in univariate analysis (p = 0.044). For stents and stent-like devices univariate analysis demonstrated stent-to-aorta diameter ratios (p = 0.001), stent length (p = 0.049), and the use of a pulling retrieval technique (p = 0.019) significantly predictive of endothelial cell counts, though a multivariate model using these variables demonstrated only the stent-to-aorta diameter ratio (p = 0.029) predictive of endothelial cell counts. Modified devices did not significantly impact harvesting. The efficacy and safety of existing aneurysm coils, intracranial stents and stent-like devices in collecting viable endothelial cells was confirmed. The technique is reproducible and the quantity and quality of collected endothelial cells is adequate for targeted genetic analysis.
Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA Daniel.cooke@ucsf.edu.
Daniel L
DL
Cooke
Laboratory Animal Resource Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Diana
D
Bauer
Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Zhengda
Z
Sun
Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Carol
C
Stillson
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Jeffrey
J
Nelson
Penumbra Inc, Alameda CA, USA.
David
D
Barry
Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Steven W
SW
Hetts
Department of Radiology, Neurology, and Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Randall T
RT
Higashida
Department of Radiology, Neurology, and Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Christopher F
CF
Dowd
Department of Radiology, Neurology, and Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Van V
VV
Halbach
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Hua
H
Su
Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Maythem M
MM
Saeed
D000783:Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D011817:Rabbits; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000295:instrumentation*
Stroke; aneurysm; coil; endothelial cell; stent