title: Functional Reconstruction of Tracheal Defects by Protein-Loaded, Cell-Seeded, Fibrous Constructs in Rabbits.
abstract: Tracheal stenosis is a life-threatening disease and current treatments include surgical reconstruction with autologous rib cartilage and the highly complex slide tracheoplasty surgical technique. We propose using a sustainable implant, composed of a tunable, fibrous scaffold with encapsulated chondrogenic growth factor (transforming growth factor-beta3 [TGF-β3]) or seeded allogeneic rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs). In vivo functionality of these constructs was determined by implanting them in induced tracheal defects in rabbits for 6 or 12 weeks. The scaffolds maintained functional airways in a majority of the cases, with the BMSC-seeded group having an improved survival rate and the Scaffold-only group having a higher occurrence of more patent airways as determined by microcomputed tomography. The BMSC group had a greater accumulation of inflammatory cells over the graft, while also exhibiting normal epithelium, subepithelium, and cartilage formation. Overall, it was concluded that a simple, acellular scaffold is a viable option for tracheal tissue engineering, with the intraoperative addition of cells being an optional variation to the scaffolds.
authors.affiliation: 1 Bioengineering Program, University of Kansas , Lawrence, Kansas.
authors.forename: Lindsey M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.affiliation: 2 School of Medicine, University of Kansas , Kansas City, Kansas.
authors.forename: Cindy H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Vu
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas , Lawrence, Kansas.
authors.forename: Ashley L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Farris
authors.affiliation: 4 College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University , Manhattan, Kansas.
authors.forename: Katrina D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.affiliation: 5 Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, Lawrence Memorial Hospital , Lawrence, Kansas.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Galbraith
authors.affiliation: 4 College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University , Manhattan, Kansas.
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: 6 Section of Otolaryngology, Children's Mercy Hospital , Kansas City, Missouri.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Weatherly
authors.affiliation: 1 Bioengineering Program, University of Kansas , Lawrence, Kansas.|7 Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Kansas , Lawrence, Kansas.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Detamore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D011817:Rabbits; D016019:Survival Analysis; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014132:Trachea / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
chemical_list: D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3; D003094:Collagen