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Human umbilical cord cells: a new cell source for cardiovascular tissue engineering
Alexander Kadner1, Simon P Hoerstrup, Jay Tracy
1Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. alexander.kadner@chi.usz.ch
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|October 29, 2002
Summary
Umbilical cord cells (UCC) show promise for cardiovascular tissue engineering, offering superior growth and mechanical properties compared to vascular myofibroblast cells (VC). This approach avoids invasive harvesting, making it ideal for pediatric applications.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Biomaterials Science
- Cardiovascular Engineering
Background:
- Cardiovascular tissue engineering aims to create autologous constructs for cardiac surgery, particularly in pediatric patients.
- Current methods rely on vascular myofibroblast cells (VC), requiring invasive tissue harvesting.
- Umbilical cord cells (UCC) are explored as a less invasive, alternative autologous cell source.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of using umbilical cord cells (UCC) for cardiovascular tissue engineering.
- To compare the growth, differentiation, and mechanical properties of UCC-derived constructs with vascular myofibroblast cells (VC).
Main Methods:
- Human UCC were isolated, expanded, and seeded onto bioabsorbable copolymer patches.
- UCC and VC were characterized using flow cytometry, histology, and microscopy.
- Tissue-engineered constructs were evaluated for extracellular matrix deposition and biomechanical properties.
Main Results:
- UCC exhibited superior cell growth and fibroblast-like morphology compared to VC.
- UCC constructs demonstrated layered tissue formation with collagen I, III, and glycoaminoglycans.
- Biomechanical properties of UCC constructs approached those of native tissue, with increased cell content.
Conclusions:
- Tissue engineering of cardiovascular constructs using UCC is feasible in vitro.
- UCC offer excellent growth and tissue formation capabilities, with mechanical properties comparable to native tissue.
- UCC represent a promising alternative autologous cell source, avoiding invasive harvesting and utilizing juvenile cells.