In Vivo Experimental Study of Biological Compatibility of Tissue Engineered Tracheal Construct in Laboratory Primates

Biological compatibility of a tissue engineered construct of the trachea (synthetic scaffold) and allogenic mesenchymal stem cells was studied on laboratory Papio hamadryas primates. Subcutaneous implantation and orthotopic transplantations of tissue engineered constructs were carried out. Histological studies of the construct showed chaotically located filaments and mononuclear cells fixed to them. Development of a fine connective tissue capsule was found at the site of subcutaneous implantation of the tissue engineered construct. The intact structure of the scaffold populated by various cell types in orthotopic specimens was confirmed by expression of specific proteins. The results indicated biological compatibility of the tissue engineered construct with the mesenchymal stem cells; no tissue rejection reactions were recorded; simulation of respiratory disease therapy on Papio hamadryas proved to be an adequate model.