Engineering vascular replacements for strength and elasticity

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The development of biologically-based tissue-engineered blood vessels (TEBVs) that combine vascular cells with biocompatible extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds shows promise, but is problematic in two key areas, which will be addressed in this application: 1) the absence of elastin and 2) excessive maturation times in vitro. In native blood vessels, the rubber-like protein elastin provides resilience and limits vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. Unfortunately, adult VSMCs synthesize little or no elastin, hence TEBVs incorporating VSMCs from adult patients (to limit tissue rejection) would be deficient in elastin, which can lead to stenosis and mechanical failure of the graft. The Wight Laboratory has discovered that splice variant 3 of the ECM proteoglycan versican (V3) can induce VSMCs in vitro and in vivo to produce and assemble elastin. In the present application, we propose that purified, recombinant V3 (rV3) can be used to stimulate elastic fiber formation within TEBVs as they mature in vitro. In regard to excessive maturation times, many ECM-based scaffold materials are mechanically weak, which requires that TEBVs mature for months in vitro before they are strong enough to engraft safely. To address this problem, the Vernon Laboratory has developed novel, ECM-based scaffolds (microgrooved collagen membranes - MGCMs) that are mechanically strong and induce seeded cells to align uniaxially on the grooves within 24-48 h. MGCM sheets populated with aligned vascular cells have been successfully converted into tubes. We propose to combine this method of TEBV fabrication with rV3-mediated elastogenesis to create strong, elastic TEBVs that will mature in vitro in a relatively short time. This application has 3 Specific Aims: In Aim 1, rat rV3 will be produced using an Sf9 insect cell expression system, then purified and tested initially for elastogenic capacity on rat VSMC monolayer cultures. Subsequently, MGCM-scaffolded TEBVs, populated with rat VSMCs (for media) and rat dermal fibroblasts (for adventitia), will be exposed to the rV3 during their maturation in vitro. In Aim 2, we will evaluate the structural, mechanical, and physiological performance of the TEBVs created in Aim 1 (with native arteries as the "gold standard" for performance) according to the following criteria: 1) cell orientation and population dynamics; 2) composition and organization of the ECM produced by the cells; 3) mechanical properties, including stress- strain responses and burst-strength; and 4) vasoresponse. Finally, in Aim 3, robust, candidate TEBVs will be populated with endothelial cells to produce a non-thrombogenic lining and transplanted into rats to evaluate their performance in vivo. Endpoints will include TEBV patency, integrity, mechanical properties, endothelialization, thrombogenicity, vasoresponse, and host immune responses. In summary, the work proposed in this application represents the next stage of our extensive preliminary studies of the elastogenic properties of V3 and of methods to fabricate TEBVs. We believe that this work will make significant progress toward the goal of an engineered vascular replacement that functions like a native blood vessel.