Autologous Bioengineered Heart Valves: An Update

The study of the cellular and molecular pathogenesis of heart valve disease is an emerging area of research made possible by the availability of cultures of valve interstitial cells (VICs) and valve endothelial cells (VECs) and by the design and use of in vitro and in vivo experimental systems that model elements of valve biological and pathobiological activity. VICs are the most common cells in the valve and are distinct from other mesenchymal cell types in other organs. We present a conceptual approach to the investigation of VICs by focusing on VIC phenotype-function relationships. Our review suggests that there are five identifiable phenotypes of VICs that define the current understanding of their cellular and molecular functions. These include embryonic progenitor endothelial/mesenchymal cells, quiescent VICs (qVICs), activated VICs (aVICs), progenitor VICs (pVICs), and osteoblastic VICs (obVICs). Although these may exhibit plasticity and may convert from one form to another, compartmentalizing VIC function into distinct phenotypes is useful in bringing clarity to our understanding of VIC pathobiology. We present a conceptual model that is useful in the design and interpretation of studies on the function of an important phenotype in disease, the activated VIC. We hope this review will inspire members of the investigative pathology community to consider valve pathobiology as an exciting new frontier exploring pathogenesis and discovering new therapeutic targets in cardiovascular diseases.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been isolated and shown to be effective in animal models of ischemia, and many groups involved in clinical trials have demonstrated that EPC therapy is safe and feasible for the treatment of critical limb ischemia and cardiovascular diseases. However, many issues in the field of EPC biology, especially in regards to the proper and unambiguous molecular characterization of these cells still remain unresolved, hampering not only basic research but also the effective therapeutic use and widespread application of these cells. In this review, we introduce the recent concept of EPC identification in terms of hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic EPCs along with the development of EPC biology research. Furthermore, we define the role of circulating EPCs in postnatal neovascularization to illustrate the future direction of EPC therapeutic applications. Next, we review on-going medical applications of EPC for cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases, introduce the practical example of therapeutic application of EPCs to patients with ischemic disease, and discuss about the feedback of clinical researches. Copyright © 2011 AlphaMed Press.

We compared 3 different decellularization protocols in porcine heart valves for efficiency of complete cell removal and potential for recellularization. Porcine aortic and pulmonary roots were treated with trypsin, sodium-dodecyl-sulphate, or a new method using 0.25% tert-octylphenyl-polyoxyethylen in combination with sodium-deoxycholate. After a subsequent ribonuclease digestion, specimens were seeded with in vitro expanded human saphenous vein endothelial cells and myofibroblasts. After treatment with trypsin and subsequent ribonuclease digestion, endothelial attachment took place; however, xenogenic cells were still visible within the matrix. Unexpectedly, when human cells were seeded onto specimens that had been decellularized with sodium-dodecyl-sulphate, the matrices were surrounded by nonviable endothelial cell fragments, indicating a toxic influence of the ionic detergent; 0.25% tert-octylphenyl-polyoxyethylen together with sodium-deoxycholate completely removed porcine cells and enabled host recellularization. Compared with trypsin and sodium-dodecyl-sulphate involving decellularization procedures, reported to be effective in cell removal and susceptible to recellularization with human cells, only the porcine matrix treated with a new detergent-based decellularization method using 0.25% tert-octylphenyl-polyoxyethylen/sodium-deoxycholate followed by nuclease digestion presented an excellent scaffold for recellularization with human cells.