Endothelialization of human collagen surfaces with human adult endothelial cells

Artificial vascular grafts are currently used to restore blood flow to ischemic tissue. Although the long-term patency of large diameter grafts is relatively acceptable, small diameter (less than 4 mm) grafts exhibit poor long-term patency rates. One technique to create a nonthrombogenic surface on artificial prostheses has been to seed with endothelial cells derived from autologous vessels. We have examined the interaction of human adult endothelial cells with the natural collagen surfaces presented by human amnion. Scanning electron microscopic evaluation revealed that human adult endothelial cells adhered rapidly to both the basement surface (collagen types IV and V) and interstitial surface (collagen types I and III) of amnion. However, the adherence of cells was significantly greater on the basement membrane surface. In addition, human adult endothelial cells rapidly formed close cell-to-cell interactions on basement membrane as compared with cells seeded onto the interstitial surface. These results suggest that seeding of endothelial cells onto artificial surfaces will be facilitated if the surface simulates the natural basement membrane to which endothelial cells natively adhere.