Coculture of endothelial and smooth muscle cells on a collagen membrane in the development of a small-diameter vascular graft

Coronary artery disease is one of the major diseases that plagues today’s modern society. Conventional treatments utilize synthetic vascular grafts such as Dacron® and Teflon® in bypass graft surgery. Despite the wide adaptation, these synthetic grafts are often plagued with weaknesses such as low hemocompatibility, thrombosis, intimal hyperplasia, and risks of graft infection. More importantly, these synthetic grafts are not available at diameters of less than 6 mm. In view of these challenges, we strived to develop and adapt the electrospun Poly Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid (PLGA) Microtube Array Membrane (MTAM) vascular graft for applications smaller than 6 mm in diameter. Homogenously porous PLGA MTAMs were successfully electrospun at 5.5–8.5 kV under ambient conditions. Mechanically, the PLGA MTAMs registered a maximum tensile strength of 5.57 ± 0.85 MPa and Young’s modulus value of 1.134 ± 0.01 MPa; while MTT assay revealed that seven-day Smooth Muscle Cells (SMCs) and Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) registered a 6 times and 2.4 times higher cell viability when cultured in a co-culture setting in medium containing α-1 haptaglobulin. When rolled into a vascular graft, the PLGA MTAMs registered an overall degradation of 82% after 60 days of cell co-culture. After eight weeks of culturing, immunohistochemistry staining revealed the formation of a monolayer of HUVECs with tight junctions on the surface of the PLGA MTAM, and as for the SMCs housed within the lumens of the PLGA MTAMs, a monolayer with high degree of orientation was observed. The PLGA MTAM registered a burst pressure of 1092.2 ± 175.3 mmHg, which was sufficient for applications such as small diameter blood vessels. Potentially, the PLGA MTAM could be used as a suitable substrate for vascular engineering

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Human vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells cocultured on polyglycolic acid (70/30) scaffold in tissue engineered vascular graft

Chinese Medical Journal ◽

10.1097/00029330-200708010-00007 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 120 (15) ◽

pp. 1331-1335 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Shao-jun WEN ◽

Li-min ZHAO ◽

Shen-guo WANG ◽

Jing-xing LI ◽

Hua-ying CHEN ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Cells ◽

Smooth Muscle ◽

Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽

Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Vascular Graft ◽

Muscle Cells ◽

Polyglycolic Acid

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Rapid Engineered Small Diameter Vascular Grafts from Smooth Muscle Cells

Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology ◽

10.1007/s13239-011-0044-8 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 149-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Wei He ◽

Alejandro Nieponice ◽

Yi Hong ◽

William R. Wagner ◽

David A. Vorp

Keyword(s):

Smooth Muscle ◽

Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Vascular Grafts ◽

Small Diameter ◽

Muscle Cells ◽

Small Diameter Vascular Grafts

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Activation of inward rectifier K+ channels by hypoxia in rabbit coronary arterial smooth muscle cells

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.00331.2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 289 (6) ◽

pp. H2461-H2467 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Won Sun Park ◽

Jin Han ◽

Nari Kim ◽

Jae-Hong Ko ◽

Sung Joon Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smooth Muscle ◽

Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Acute Hypoxia ◽

Large Diameter ◽

Small Diameter ◽

Muscle Cells ◽

Inward Rectifier ◽

Arterial Smooth Muscle ◽

Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitor

We examined the effects of acute hypoxia on Ba2+-sensitive inward rectifier K+ (KIR) current in rabbit coronary arterial smooth muscle cells. The amplitudes of KIR current was definitely higher in the cells from small-diameter (<100 μm) coronary arterial smooth muscle cells (SCASMC, −12.8 ± 1.3 pA/pF at −140 mV) than those in large-diameter coronary arterial smooth muscle cells (>200 μm, LCASMC, −1.5 ± 0.1 pA pF−1). Western blot analysis confirmed that Kir2.1 protein was expressed in SCASMC but not LCASMC. Hypoxia activated much more KIR currents in symmetrical 140 K+. This effect was blocked by the adenylyl cyclase inhibitor SQ-22536 (10 μM) and mimicked by forskolin (10 μM) and dibutyryl-cAMP (500 μM). The production of cAMP in SCASMC increased 5.7-fold after 6 min of hypoxia. Hypoxia-induced increase in KIR currents was abolished by the PKA inhibitors, Rp-8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMPs (10 μM) and KT-5720 (1 μM). The inhibition of G protein with GDPβS (1 mM) partially reduced (∼50%) the hypoxia-induced increase in KIR currents. In Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts, hypoxia increased coronary blood flow, an effect that was inhibited by Ba2+. In summary, hypoxia augments the KIR currents in SCASMC via cAMP- and PKA-dependent signaling cascades, which might, at least partly, explain the hypoxia-induced coronary vasodilation.

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Behaviour of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells on Amine Plasma-Coated Materials with Various Chemical Structures and Morphologies

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21249467 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (24) ◽

pp. 9467

Author(s):

Ivana Nemcakova ◽

Lucie Blahova ◽

Petr Rysanek ◽

Andreu Blanquer ◽

Lucie Bacakova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smooth Muscle ◽

Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽

Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Small Diameter ◽

Muscle Cells ◽

Chemical Compositions ◽

Chemical Structures ◽

Coated Materials ◽

Initial Adhesion

Amine-coated biodegradable materials based on synthetic polymers have a great potential for tissue remodeling and regeneration because of their excellent processability and bioactivity. In the present study, we have investigated the influence of various chemical compositions of amine plasma polymer (PP) coatings and the influence of the substrate morphology, represented by polystyrene culture dishes and polycaprolactone nanofibers (PCL NFs), on the behavior of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Although all amine-PP coatings improved the initial adhesion of VSMCs, 7-day long cultivation revealed a clear preference for the coating containing about 15 at.% of nitrogen (CPA-33). The CPA-33 coating demonstrated the ideal combination of good water stability, a sufficient amine group content, and favorable surface wettability and morphology. The nanostructured morphology of amine-PP-coated PCL NFs successfully slowed the proliferation rate of VSMCs, which is essential in preventing restenosis of vascular replacements in vivo. At the same time, CPA-33-coated PCL NFs supported the continuous proliferation of VSMCs during 7-day long cultivation, with no significant increase in cytokine secretion by RAW 264.7 macrophages. The CPA-33 coating deposited on biodegradable PCL NFs therefore seems to be a promising material for manufacturing small-diameter vascular grafts, which are still lacking on the current market.

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Effect of Calcium Channel Blockers on the Growth of Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Derived from Saphenous Vein and Vascular Graft Stenoses

Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology ◽

10.1097/00005344-199405000-00013 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 23 (5) ◽

pp. 779-784 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

E. Munro ◽

M. Patel ◽

P. Chan ◽

L. Betteridge ◽

K. Gallagher ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smooth Muscle ◽

Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽

Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Calcium Channel ◽

Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Saphenous Vein ◽

Calcium Channel Blockers ◽

Vascular Graft ◽

Muscle Cells ◽

Channel Blockers

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Electrical Transmission at the Nexus between Smooth Muscle Cells

The Journal of General Physiology ◽

10.1085/jgp.51.3.347 ◽

1968 ◽

Vol 51 (3) ◽

pp. 347-368 ◽

Cited By ~ 136

Author(s):

L. Barr ◽

W. Berger ◽

M. M. Dewey

Keyword(s):

Smooth Muscle ◽

Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Action Potentials ◽

Small Diameter ◽

Muscle Cells ◽

Taenia Coli ◽

Electrical Transmission ◽

Functional Changes ◽

The Core ◽

Sucrose Gap

The hypothesis that nexuses between cells are responsible for the core conductor properties of tissues was tested using smooth muscle preparations from the taenia coli of guinea pigs. Action potentials recorded from small diameter preparations across a sucrose gap change from monophasic to diphasic when a shunt resistor is connected across the gap. This indicates that transmission between smooth muscle cells is electrical, because the resistor only allows current to flow. Nexal fusion of cell membranes occurs especially where one cell sends a large bulbous projection into a neighbor. Hypertonic solutions rupture the nexuses between smooth muscle cells. Hypertonicity also increases the resistance of a bundle across the sucrose gap and blocks propagation of action potentials. Thus the structural and functional changes in smooth muscle due to hypertonicity correlate with the hypothesis.

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Hybrid of Gel-Cultured Smooth Muscle Cells with PLLA Sponge as a Scaffold towards Blood Vessel Regeneration

Cell Transplantation ◽

10.3727/000000002783985747 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 475-480 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Katsuko S. Furukawa ◽

Takashi Ushida ◽

Kenshi Toita ◽

Yasuyuki Sakai ◽

Tetsuya Tateishi

Keyword(s):

Smooth Muscle ◽

Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Biodegradable Polymer ◽

Vascular Graft ◽

Type I Collagen ◽

Muscle Cells ◽

Type I ◽

Conventional Model ◽

Plla Scaffold ◽

Inner Surface

Although rapid formation of a smooth inner surface is important in constructing an artificial vascular graft, a conventional model that uses a biodegradable polymer such as polyglycolic acid needs long-term culture to form it. In another model, which uses collagen gel, it is reported that prompt formation of the smooth inner surface was achieved. But the mechanical properties were not suitable, resulting in rupture under high pressure at the arterial level. Therefore, we propose a new artificial vascular graft model made of biodegradable polymer, gel, and cells. At first we manufactured an artificial vascular graft (i.d. 5 mm, o.d.7 mm) consisting of poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) with open pore structures by using gas-forming methods. After mixing human normal aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) with type I collagen solution, pores of the PLLA scaffold were filled with the mixture. The collagen mixture was made into gel in the pores of the PLLA scaffold, incubating at 37°C. WET-SEM analysis showed that the prompt formation of a smooth inner surface was achieved in the new model. The ratio of incorporation of SMCs into the artificial vascular graft became approximately 100% by using the cell–collagen mixture, whereas only 40% of SMCs were trapped in the conventional model where SMCs were inoculated as a cell–medium suspension. Therefore, it was suggested that the new artificial vascular graft model was superior in smooth inner surface formation and cell inoculation, compared with conventional models using either biodegradable polymer or gel.

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