A novel scaffold for endothelial progenitor cells in tissue engineered vascular grafts / 中华普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the characteristics of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) on different scaffolds and to find a new bio-engineered synthetic hybrid scaffold for artificial bio-engineered blood vessels. Methods EPCs were induced from mesenchymal stem cells isolated from rat bone marrow and seeded on ECM scaffold. The surface structure of the scaffold and growth status of EPCs on the scaffold were observed and analysed by electron microscopy. The characteristics and number of those EPCs on different kinds of scaffolds were studied with EPC-specific VWF by immunofluorescence, Western blotting and real-time PCR technique at different time points. Results The cell adhesion rate at 1,3,5 h after seeded on pressed scaffold were higher than that on unpressed scaffolds( P < 0. 01 ). Pressed scaffolds has got a larger cell number( P < 0. 05 )at DIV1, DIV3, DIV7, but there was no significant difference after DIV10. Furthermore, cell shapes of EPCs on pressed scaffolds were more mature and more similar to endothelial cells. A level cell surface on pressed scaffolds was achieved. Western blotting assays revealed EPCs on pressed scaffolds expressed more protein VWF at DIV3, DIV7, DIV10. Real-time PCR results showed EPCs on the two different groups of scaffolds all expressed VWF gene, The quantity of their expression in the two groups were all enhanced after DIV7 (P < 0. 05 ). The quantity of VWF gene expression in the pressed group was much higher than that in the unpressed group at DIV3 ,DIV7,DIV10 (P <0, 01), but there was no significant difference after DIV14. Conclusions Pressed ECM scaffolds can promote adhesion, proliferation and differentiation on EPCs. Pressed scaffolds can be used as the matrix for EPC and fabricated into a novel synthetic tissue bio-engineered vascular scaffold.