Abstract
Background: The Ozaki procedure is an innovative surgical technique aiming at reconstructing aortic valves with human autologous pericardium. Even if this procedure is widely used, a comprehensive biological characterization of the glutaraldehyde (GA)-fixed pericardial tissue is still missing. Methods: Morphological analysis was performed to assess the general organization of pericardium subjected to the Ozaki procedure (post-Ozaki) in comparison to native tissue (pre-Ozaki). The effect of GA treatment on cell viability and nuclear morphology was then investigated in whole biopsies and a cytotoxicity assay was executed to assess the biocompatibility of pericardium. Finally, human umbilical vein endothelial cells were seeded on post-Ozaki samples to evaluate the influence of GA in modulating the endothelialization ability in vitro and the production of pro-inflammatory mediators. Results: The Ozaki procedure alters the arrangement of collagen and elastic fibers in the extracellular matrix and results in a significant reduction in cell viability compared to native tissue. GA treatment, however, is not cytotoxic to murine fibroblasts as compared to a commercially available bovine pericardium membrane. In addition, in in vitro experiments of endothelial cell adhesion, no difference in the inflammatory mediators with respect to the commercial patch was found. Conclusions: The Ozaki procedure, despite alteration of ECM organization and cell devitalization, allows for the establishment of a noncytotoxic environment in which endothelial cell repopulation occurs.
Highlights
Human autologous pericardium has been used for the reconstruction of aortic valve since the late 1960s [1,2]
We investigated the effect of the GA treatment on cell viability and nuclear morphology in whole biopsies; a cytotoxicity assay was carried out to assess the biocompatibility of pericardium in vitro
There has been limited characterization of human autologous pericardium treated with GA and used for the reconstruction of aortic valve
Summary
Human autologous pericardium has been used for the reconstruction of aortic valve since the late 1960s [1,2]. The mechanism of calcification is considered a multi-factorial event, mainly triggered by the interaction between membrane phospholipids of cells devitalized, but not removed by the GA treatment, and the increased influx of extracellular calcium, which leads to the formation of hydroxyapatite [8,9]. The Ozaki procedure is an innovative surgical technique aiming at reconstructing aortic valves with human autologous pericardium. Even if this procedure is widely used, a comprehensive biological characterization of the glutaraldehyde (GA)-fixed pericardial tissue is still missing. Results: The Ozaki procedure alters the arrangement of collagen and elastic fibers in the extracellular matrix and results in a significant reduction in cell viability compared to native tissue. Conclusions: The Ozaki procedure, despite alteration of ECM organization and cell devitalization, allows for the establishment of a noncytotoxic environment in which endothelial cell repopulation occurs
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
