Bioengineered human vascular networks transplanted into secondary mice reconnect with the host vasculature and re-establish perfusion

Blood. 2011 Dec 15;118(25):6718-21. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-08-375188. Epub 2011 Oct 28.

Abstract

The ability to form anastomoses with the host circulation is essential for vascular networks incorporated within cell-seeded bioengineered tissues. Here, we tested whether and how rapidly human endothelial colony forming cell (ECFC)/mesenchymal progenitor cell (MPC)-derived bioengineered vessels, originally perfused in one mouse, could become reperfused in a secondary mouse. Using in vivo labeling with a systemically injected mixture of human- and murine-specific lectins, we demonstrate that ECFC/MPC blood vessels reconnect and are perfused at day 3 after transplantation. Furthermore, we quantified the longitudinal change in perfusion volume in the same implants before and after transplantation using contrast-enhanced micro-ultrasonic imaging. Perfusion was restored at day 3 after transplantation and increased with time, suggesting an important new feature of ECFC/MPC blood vessels: the bioengineered vessels can reconnect with the vasculature when transplanted to a new site. This feature extends the potential applications of this postnatal progenitor cell-based technology for transplantable large tissue-engineered constructs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Vessels / cytology
  • Blood Vessels / diagnostic imaging
  • Blood Vessels / metabolism
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Collagen
  • Drug Combinations
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Laminin
  • Male
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic*
  • Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism
  • Proteoglycans
  • Stem Cell Transplantation / methods
  • Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Tissue Engineering / methods
  • Transplantation, Heterologous
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Drug Combinations
  • Laminin
  • Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Proteoglycans
  • matrigel
  • Collagen