title: Aortic valve conduit implantation in the descending thoracic aorta in a sheep model: The outcomes of pre-seeded scaffold.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We evaluated the outcomes of implanting pre-seeded decellularized aortic valve conduit (AVC) with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a sheep model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight sheep AVCs were obtained under sterile conditions and decellularized by using detergent-based methods. Decellularized AVCs were seeded with autologous bone marrow-derived MSCs in a dynamic bioreactor system. Pre-seeded AVCs were implanted in the descending thoracic aorta in a sheep model. In all sheep, a decellularized pericardial patch was also anastomosed to the proximal part in order to reduce the incidence of rupture. Pathological evaluations, echocardiography, multislice computed tomography (CT), and CT angiography were performed for the evaluation of implanted AVCs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The longest survival period was 19 months in pre-seeded animals with complete recellularization at the long-term follow-up. Immunohistochemical staining for desmin, smooth muscle actin, and cytokeratin was significantly positive in the pre-seeded samples and reached near normal ranges. CT angiography revealed no intimal tearing after 18 months of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pre-seeded AVCs with bone marrow-derived MSCs may have satisfactory results in postoperative cell seeding capabilities with promising functional potentiality. This modality may be beneficial and may provide a new era of biological grafts in cardiovascular surgery.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Urology Research Center, Section of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Therapy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. Electronic address: kajbafzd@sina.tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Abdol-Mohammad
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kajbafzadeh
authors.affiliation: Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Hossein
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ahmadi Tafti
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mokhber-Dezfooli
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Urology Research Center, Section of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Therapy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khorramirouz
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Urology Research Center, Section of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Therapy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Shabnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabetkish
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Urology Research Center, Section of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Therapy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Nastaran
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sabetkish
authors.affiliation: Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rabbani
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tavana
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Urology Research Center, Section of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Therapy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Javad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mohseni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D001021:Aortic Valve; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells; D023421:Models, Animal; D012756:Sheep; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
keywords: Aortic valve; Implantation; Mesenchymal stem cell; Tissue-engineered vascular graft