Precoating expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts alters production of endothelial cell-derived thrombomodulators

Although the use of extracellular matrix proteins to precoat small-caliber vascular grafts before endothelial cell seeding has been shown to improve cell attachment, proliferation, and adherence, the effect of precoating on the thrombomodulatory properties of the seeded cells is unknown. The use of vascular prostheses lined with confluent endothelial cell monolayers expressing optimal thromboresistant properties may enhance patency rates. In this study human saphenous vein endothelial cells were seeded onto expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) graft material, both unmodified and precoated with fibronectin, type I collagen, or fibronectin and type I collagen (fibronectin/type I collagen). After 3 days of in vitro cultivation, endothelial cell production of prostacyclin, tissue plasminogen activator, and plasminogen activator inhibitor was evaluated under basal conditions and after stimulation with arachidonate or thrombin. Production of tissue plasminogen activator by endothelial cells cultured on fibronectin-ePTFE was significantly greater compared with production by endothelial cells grown on noncoated or fibronectin/type I collagen-ePTFE under basal conditions (p values less than 0.01 and less than 0.05, respectively) and in response to thrombin (p values less than 0.002 and less than 0.003, respectively). Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 production was not detected in any of the four experimental groups. Endothelial cells cultured on fibronectin-ePTFE also synthesized significantly more prostacyclin than endothelial cells grown on type I collagen- or fibronectin/type I collagen-ePTFE, under basal conditions (p values less than 0.02 and less than 0.01, respectively) and in response to arachidonate (p values less than 0.03 and less than 0.002, respectively) and thrombin (p values less than 0.003 and less than 0.002, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)