[Experimental studies of extracellular matrix constituents for coating artificial prostheses before...

Endothelialization seems to be a possibility to reduce thrombogenicity of artificial vascular prostheses. We have been occupied to find an ideal coating for the cells. Substances of extracellular matrix (ECM) were used: human fibronectin (HFN), laminin, collagen type I + III + IV. We have compared the influence of these materials with regard to adherence, sheer stress resistance and growth of cultivated human vena saphena endothelial cells (SEC). There was not any statistically significant difference according to cell proliferation. During a cultivation period of 7 days SEC increased by population doubling number 5 corresponding to a population doubling time of 76 hours. PTFE prostheses were coated with the materials, seeded with SEC and exposed to sheer stress in a physiological perfusion unit. Adherent SEC were counted after 24 hours of perfusion. Counts were correlated to the number of seeded cells. After perfusion only 23 +/- 4%, resp. 25 +/- 6% of cells were counted on collagen I + IV + HFN and on collagen I + IV + laminin. We found better results on collagen I + III and on collagen I + III + HFN; there were adherent 55 +/- 5%, resp. 53 +/- 7% after perfusion. These results document that there is no difference for SEC cultivation on different native components of basal membrane, under sheer stress conditions there seems to be differences in cell adherence.