RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The primary therapeutic strategy in cardiovascular disease is the coronary artery bypass surgery, which in- volves the use of small diameter vascular grafts (<6 mm). Human umbilical arteries could be used as a source for the development of these grafts. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was the decellularization of human umbilical arteries and the evaluation of their re- cellularization potential. METHODS: Decellularization of human umbilical arteries was performed with a detergent based protocol. Histological analysis was performed in order to determine the effect of decellularization. Then, recellularization was performed by using two different approaches. The first approach was the dynamic seeding of human umbilical arteries with Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and the second approach involved the recellularization by using a bioreactor system. RESULTS: Histological analysis showed the successful removal of cellular and nuclear materials from the umbilical arteries. In addition, successful recellularization of the vessels was observed with both approaches. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that human umbilical arteries could serve as an alternative material for the proper development of small diameter vascular grafts.
