Article
Use of Vascular Resident Endothelial Progenitor Cells for Scaffold Based Dermal Tissue Engineering
Search Medline for
Authors
-
Ziyang Zhang
- Technische Universität München, Deptartment of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Klinikum recht der Isar Technische Universität München, Munich
-
Ursula Hopfner
- Technische Universität München, Deptartment of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Klinikum recht der Isar Technische Universität München, Munich
-
Yves Harder
- Technische Universität München, Deptartment of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Klinikum recht der Isar Technische Universität München, Munich
-
Ann Reckhenrich
- Technische Universität München, Deptartment of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Klinikum recht der Isar Technische Universität München, Munich
-
Mathias Kremer
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, University of Lübeck, University of Lübeck, Lübeck
-
Natalie Lund
- Department of Experimental Cardiology,University Hospital Hamburg Eppendorf, University of Hamburg, Hamburg
-
Wulf Ito
- Cardiovascular Center Oberallgaeu, Academic Teaching Hospital, University of Ulm, University of Ulm, Immenstadt
-
Joern Lohmeyer
- Deptartment of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Klinikum recht der Isar Technische Universität München, Technische Universität München, Munich
-
Hans-Günther Machens
- Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Klinik und Poliklinik für Plastische Chirurgie und Handchirurgie, Munich
-
José Tomas Egaña
- Technische Universität München, Deptartment of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Klinikum recht der Isar Technische Universität München, Munich
| Published: | May 20, 2011 |
|---|
Outline
Text
Introduction: Increasing evidences suggest that vascular resident endothelial progenitor cells (VR-EPCs) are present in vessel walls, playing an important role in postnatal neovascularization. However, their structural and functional characteristics still remain unclear. In this work we isolated and characterize VR-EPCs in vitro, evaluating their regenerative potential in vivo.
Materials and methods: VR-EPCs were isolated from myocardial tissue in rats and characterized in vitro with regard to morphology, cell surface markers and angiogenic response. Thereafter, cells were seeded in a collagen scaffold and their regenerative potential was evaluated in vivo in a full thickness skin defect model.
Results: Isolated cells share several features with EPC described for other tissues. Amongst others, VR-EPCs expressed CD34, and CD133 and could develop capillary like structures in vitro. After seeding VR-EPCs in a collagen scaffolds, cells were homogeneously distributed, forming focal adhesions within the scaffold which was confirmed by confocal microscope. Metabolic assays showed that cells could proliferate in vitro for at least 2 weeks in the scaffold (P<0.01). In vivo, we observed by transillumination/digital segmentation (P<0.001) and by histology assays (P<0.05) that the presence of these cells enhanced dermal vascularization compared to control scaffolds. In order to explore the possible mechanisms behind the improvement in tissue regeneration, in vitro analysis was performed and showed that isolated cells secreted several pro-angiogenic molecules including VEGF and PDGF. Moreover, the migration capacity of VR-EPCs (P<0.001) and the formation of capillary like structures (P<0.01) were both improved under endothelial culture conditions.
Figure 1 [Fig. 1]
Conclusion: This work indicates that a highly clonogenic VR-EPCs population that exhibits considerable regenerative capacities can be established in vitro. Accordingly, these cells could constitute a new therapeutic approach to induce vascular regeneration in dermal scaffolds.
