Functional Integration of Autologous Tissue-Engineered Grafts in a Pre-Clinical Esophageal Defect Model
Congenital and acquired esophageal pathologies such as oesophageal atresia can leave large tissue deficits in patients were insufficient oesophagus exists to restore continuity. Currently, these require replacement by repurposing the stomach, colon or small bowel. The aim of this study was to develop a tissue engineered oesophagus as an alternative, produced using a clinically relevant timescale, and determine feasibility, safety of autologous transplantation of autologous grafts via a thoracic approach in a growing minipig model, together with assessment of function and integration. Overall design: Five libraries of single-nucleus data and eleven of spatial transcriptomic data.  Single-nucleus data: Two libraries (Cher-Injected-nuclei, Cher-ReCell-nuclei) containing nuclei from single samples. The remaining three (P1, P2_R, P3) containing multiplexed nuclei from two samples each, as follows:  P1: AdeleInjectedCells & DollyRecellSN P2_R: FergieRecellSN & DollyInjectedCells P3: FergieInjectedCells & AdeleRecellSN   Spatial transcriptomic data:  Four native samples, with three from domestic pig (Native_1_ST, Native_2_ST, Native_3_ST) and one from a minipig which received a transplant (Cher_native_V). One pre-implant sample (Cher_ReCell_V) Six post-implant samples (Cher_Graft_V, Fergie_Graft_V, PVA, PVB, PVC, PVD)