Development of engineered xenogeneic patch for potential use in cardiac regenerative medicine

Physiology 2016 (Dublin, Ireland) (2016) Proc Physiol Soc 37, PCA044

Poster Communications: Development of engineered xenogeneic patch for potential use in cardiac regenerative medicine

A. Albertario1, M. Swim1, D. Iacobazzi1, M. Caputo1, M. Ghorbel1

1. Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol, United Kingdom.

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Cardiovascular diseases are the leading global cause of death. Stem cell-based treatment approaches for injured heart represent an important frontier in cardiovascular medicine. Injection of cells to the damaged heart has been largely utilized, although cell retention remains the biggest challenge associated to this technique. Tissue engineered grafts have been shown to have a more favourable outcome for cell delivery. Decellularised xenogeneic tissues constitute promising naturally occurring scaffolds for regenerative medicine. The aim of this study was to develop decellularised engineered-scaffolds from different porcine tissues that could be used as patch for cardiovascular repair and regeneration of damaged tissue. Porcine pericardium and myocardium were collected from 60 Kg pigs. Pericardium was decellularised with TritonX or Trypsin, while myocardium was decellularised with SDS. All treatments were followed by nuclease incubation. The differentiation of human thymus-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hTMSCs) was achieved using our established protocol based on a combination of grow factors. The expression of cardiac markers was assessed by immunostaining and qPCR. Differentiated and undifferentiated cells were seeded onto the decellularised scaffolds and cell viability was detected using a viability/cytotoxicity assay kit after two weeks of tissue culture. Histological characterization of the seeded and unseeded scaffolds was carried out with Hematoxylin and Eosin, Elastic Van Gieson and Alcian blue staining. Scanning electron microscopy allowed for visualization of engrafted cells’ topography at high magnification. Successful decellularisation was achieved in all used protocols as shown by cell removal from the matrix, preservation of the extracellular tissue content and collagen structural network. The cardiac-like MSCs (hCL-TMSCs) positively expressed the proteins Sarcomeric α-Actinin, Myosin Heavy Chain (MYH) and Desmin (Des). They also showed increased levels of the cardiac genes GATA-4, α-Actin, MYH and Des in comparison to hTMSCs. The reseeding potential of the decellularised scaffolds was tested using either hTMSCs or hCL-TMSCs. Both cell types engrafted and proliferated on the produced scaffolds, with a preference for Triton-decellularised pericardium, followed by Trypsin-decellularised pericardium and lastly SDS-decellularised myocardium. Cell viability, retention and regenerative potential of Triton-decellularised-recellularised pericardium are currently tested into a rat model. This study established a method to produce scaffolds supporting cell growth that could be used for in vivo cell delivery. The developed cardiac patches have the potential to regenerate damaged area of the human heart.



Where applicable, experiments conform with Society ethical requirements.

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