Cell sheet-based tissue engineering for mesothelial cell injury

Mesothelial cells are an integral part of the peritoneum and play an important role in maintaining its structure and functions. A number of studies have been performed to evaluate the ability of mesothelial cells to regenerate and transdifferentiate. Mesothelial cells are also involved in repairing the damage to the peritoneum as a result of surgery or peritonitis. Previous cell sheet engineering research has made it possible to transplant cells that retain their function, and stacking different types of cells in cell sheet layers has also become possible. Mesothelial cell transplantation as a means of achieving peritoneal regeneration needs to be performed under conditions in which the surface area of the visceral peritoneum is large and the area of mesothelial cell damage is small. In this chapter, we explain cell sheet engineering as a technology for transplanting cells in which a variety of intercellular adhesion and cell membrane molecules remain intact and the application of this technology to peritoneal regeneration.