title: Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reendothelialize Porcine Heart Valve Scaffolds: Novel Perspectives in Heart Valve Tissue Engineering.
abstract: Heart valve diseases are usually treated by surgical intervention addressed for the replacement of the damaged valve with a biosynthetic or mechanical prosthesis. Although this approach guarantees a good quality of life for patients, it is not free from drawbacks (structural deterioration, nonstructural dysfunction, and reintervention). To overcome these limitations, the heart valve tissue engineering (HVTE) is developing new strategies to synthesize novel types of valve substitutes, by identifying efficient sources of both ideal scaffolds and cells. In particular, a natural matrix, able to interact with cellular components, appears to be a suitable solution. On the other hand, the well-known Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) plasticity, regenerative abilities, and their immunomodulatory capacities make them highly promising for HVTE applications. In the present study, we investigated the possibility to use porcine valve matrix to regenerate in vitro the valve endothelium by WJ-MSCs differentiated along the endothelial lineage, paralleled with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), used as positive control. Here, we were able to successfully decellularize porcine heart valves, which were then recellularized with both differentiated-WJ-MSCs and HUVECs. Data demonstrated that both cell types were able to reconstitute a cellular monolayer. Cells were able to positively interact with the natural matrix and demonstrated the surface expression of typical endothelial markers. Altogether, these data suggest that the interaction between a biological scaffold and WJ-MSCs allows the regeneration of a morphologically well-structured endothelium, opening new perspectives in the field of HVTE.
authors: Center for Aging Science (Ce.S.I.), "Università G. d'Annunzio" Foundation , Chieti, Italy . ; Department of Medicine and Aging Science, School of Medicine and Health Science, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara , Chieti, Italy . ; StemTeCh Group , Chieti, Italy .
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Lanuti
authors: Center for Aging Science (Ce.S.I.), "Università G. d'Annunzio" Foundation , Chieti, Italy . ; Department of Medicine and Aging Science, School of Medicine and Health Science, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara , Chieti, Italy .
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Serafini
authors: Center for Aging Science (Ce.S.I.), "Università G. d'Annunzio" Foundation , Chieti, Italy . ; Department of Medicine and Aging Science, School of Medicine and Health Science, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara , Chieti, Italy . ; StemTeCh Group , Chieti, Italy .
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Pierdomenico
authors: Center for Aging Science (Ce.S.I.), "Università G. d'Annunzio" Foundation , Chieti, Italy . ; Department of Medicine and Aging Science, School of Medicine and Health Science, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara , Chieti, Italy .
authors: Pasquale
authors: P
authors: Simeone
authors: Center for Aging Science (Ce.S.I.), "Università G. d'Annunzio" Foundation , Chieti, Italy . ; Department of Medicine and Aging Science, School of Medicine and Health Science, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara , Chieti, Italy .
authors: Giuseppina
authors: G
authors: Bologna
authors: Center for Aging Science (Ce.S.I.), "Università G. d'Annunzio" Foundation , Chieti, Italy . ; Department of Medicine and Aging Science, School of Medicine and Health Science, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara , Chieti, Italy .
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Ercolino
authors: Center for Aging Science (Ce.S.I.), "Università G. d'Annunzio" Foundation , Chieti, Italy . ; StemTeCh Group , Chieti, Italy . ; Department of Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara , Chieti, Italy .
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Di Silvestre
authors: Center for Aging Science (Ce.S.I.), "Università G. d'Annunzio" Foundation , Chieti, Italy . ; Department of Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara , Chieti, Italy .
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Guarnieri
authors: Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara , Chieti, Italy .
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Canosa
authors: Department of Medicine and Aging Science, School of Medicine and Health Science, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara , Chieti, Italy .
authors: Gianna Gabriella
authors: GG
authors: Impicciatore
authors: Department of Medicine and Aging Science, School of Medicine and Health Science, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara , Chieti, Italy .
authors: Stella
authors: S
authors: Chiarini
authors: Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara , Chieti, Italy .
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Magnacca
authors: Center for Aging Science (Ce.S.I.), "Università G. d'Annunzio" Foundation , Chieti, Italy . ; StemTeCh Group , Chieti, Italy . ; Department of Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara , Chieti, Italy .
authors: Maria Addolorata
authors: MA
authors: Mariggiò
authors: Center for Aging Science (Ce.S.I.), "Università G. d'Annunzio" Foundation , Chieti, Italy . ; StemTeCh Group , Chieti, Italy . ; Department of Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara , Chieti, Italy .
authors: Assunta
authors: A
authors: Pandolfi
authors: Center for Aging Science (Ce.S.I.), "Università G. d'Annunzio" Foundation , Chieti, Italy . ; Department of Medicine and Aging Science, School of Medicine and Health Science, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara , Chieti, Italy . ; StemTeCh Group , Chieti, Italy .
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Marchisio
authors: Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara , Chieti, Italy .
authors: Gabriele
authors: G
authors: Di Giammarco
authors: Center for Aging Science (Ce.S.I.), "Università G. d'Annunzio" Foundation , Chieti, Italy . ; Department of Medicine and Aging Science, School of Medicine and Health Science, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara , Chieti, Italy . ; StemTeCh Group , Chieti, Italy .
authors: Sebastiano
authors: S
authors: Miscia
keywords: WJ-MSCs; endothelium; heart valve diseases; heart valve tissue engineering