Development of Autologous Endothelial Cell Seeded Prosthetic Vascular Graft

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Small calibered prosthetic vascular grafts are prone to low patency rates after bypass surgery due to its high thrombogenicity and neointimal hyperplasia. Endothelial cells are known to inhibit thrombus formation, platelet aggregation and smooth muscle cells proliferation. The purpose of this study was to examine the development of autologous endothelial cell seeded prosthetic vascular graft. METHOD: The autologous endothelial cells (ECs) were harvested from canine external jugular veins. Approximately 5 104 ECs were obtained through passage 5 to 6 under the static condition. The cultured ECs were seeded into the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft and cultured for 3 days before implanting into the canine carotid artery. The PTFE graft was harvested at 6 weeks after implantation. RESULT: The primary cultured ECs were treated with Factor VIII/vWF, CD31/PECAM-1 antibody and confirmed with fluorescence micrograph. The graft patency rates were 2/6 (33%) in the control graft and 5/6 (83%) in the ECs seeded graft at 6 weeks after implantation. The entire luminal surface of the EC seeded graft was covered with ECs. Only the vicinity of the anastomosis site was covered with ECs in the control graft. CONCLUSION: This is a pilot study for the development of autologous endothelial cell seeded prosthetic vascular graft. The results of our study demonstrate that the endothelialized PTFE are better than nonendothelialized PTFE.