Human Cord Blood-derived Endothelial Cells Research Articles

Surface Modification of Electrospun Scaffolds for Endothelialization of Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts Using Human Cord Blood-Derived Endothelial Cells.

Tissue engineering has gained attention as an alternative approach for developing small diameter tissue-engineered vascular grafts intended for bypass surgery, as an option to treat coronary heart disease. To promote the formation of a healthy endothelial cell monolayer in the lumen of the graft, polycaprolactone/gelatin/fibrinogen scaffolds were developed, and the surface was modified using thermoforming and coating with collagen IV and fibronectin. Human cord blood-derived endothelial cells (hCB-ECs) were seeded onto the scaffolds and the important characteristics of a healthy endothelial cell layer were evaluated under static conditions using human umbilical vein endothelial cells as a control. We found that polycaprolactone/gelatin/fibrinogen scaffolds that were thermoformed and coated are the most suitable for endothelial cell growth. hCB-ECs can proliferate, produce endothelial nitric oxide synthase, respond to interleukin 1 beta, and reduce platelet deposition.

Identifying an optimal seeding protocol and endothelial cell substrate for biohybrid lung development

Several key prerequisites need to be fulfilled for the development of a biohybrid lung, which can offer an actual alternative to lung transplantation. A major aspect is an optimized haemocompatibility of the device's artificial surfaces via endothelial cell seeding. In this study, four different types of polymeric gas exchange hollow fibre membranes (HFMs) were analysed utilizing four different seeding protocols in order to identify the ideal combination for sufficient long-term endothelialization. Human cord blood-derived endothelial cells (HCBECs) were used for the endothelialization of polypropylene HFMs with two different pore sizes and poly-4-methyl-1-pentene HFMs, both with and without heparin/albumin coating. The qualitative and quantitative impact of four different rotational seeding protocols regarding long-term HFM endothelialization and the impact of inflammatory stimulation on the seeded HCBECs were examined by fluorescence microscopy, cell counting, and analysis of relative expression levels of activation, shear stress, and thrombogenic state markers. Optimized endothelial cell seeding and long-term cultivation were only achieved using heparin/albumin-coated poly-4-methyl-1-pentene HFMs, applying 24hr of rotational speed at 1rpm followed by 120hr of static culture. Neither cell-to-HFM contact nor the rotational cultivation procedure showed an impact on the physiological anti-thrombogenic and anti-inflammatory HCBEC activation status. Additionally, the cells maintained their physiological responsiveness towards inflammatory stimulation. Rotational seeding strategies and a seamless heparin/albumin coating of the HFMs are crucial requirements for a sufficient and long-lasting endothelialization and thus a key element in the future development and in vivo application of the biohybrid lung.

Combination scaffolds of salmon fibrin, hyaluronic acid, and laminin for human neural stem cell and vascular tissue engineering.

Human neural stem/progenitor cells (hNSPCs) are good candidates for treating central nervous system (CNS) trauma since they secrete beneficial trophic factors and differentiate into mature CNS cells; however, many cells die after transplantation. This cell death can be ameliorated by inclusion of a biomaterial scaffold, making identification of optimal scaffolds for hNSPCs a critical research focus. We investigated the properties of fibrin-based scaffolds and their effects on hNSPCs and found that fibrin generated from salmon fibrinogen and thrombin stimulates greater hNSPC proliferation than mammalian fibrin. Fibrin scaffolds degrade over the course of a few days in vivo, so we sought to develop a novel scaffold that would retain the beneficial properties of fibrin but degrade more slowly to provide longer support for hNSPCs. We found combination scaffolds of salmon fibrin with interpenetrating networks (IPNs) of hyaluronic acid (HA) with and without laminin polymerize more effectively than fibrin alone and generate compliant hydrogels matching the physical properties of brain tissue. Furthermore, combination scaffolds support hNSPC proliferation and differentiation while significantly attenuating the cell-mediated degradation seen with fibrin alone. HNSPCs express two fibrinogen-binding integrins, αVβ1 and α5β1, and several laminin binding integrins (α7β1, α6β1, α3β1) that can mediate interaction with the scaffold. Lastly, to test the ability of scaffolds to support vascularization, we analyzed human cord blood-derived endothelial cells alone and in co-culture with hNSPCs and found enhanced vessel formation and complexity in co-cultures within combination scaffolds. Overall, combination scaffolds of fibrin, HA, and laminin are excellent biomaterials for hNSPCs.

Point-of-Care Rapid-Seeding Ventricular Assist Device with Blood-Derived Endothelial Cells to Create a Living Antithrombotic Coating

The most promising alternatives to heart transplantation are left ventricular assist devices and artificial hearts; however, their use has been limited by thrombotic complications. To reduce these, sintered titanium (Ti) surfaces were developed, but thrombosis still occurs in approximately 7.5% of patients. We have invented a rapid-seeding technology to minimize the risk of thrombosis by rapid endothelialization of sintered Ti with human cord blood-derived endothelial cells (hCB-ECs). Human cord blood-derived endothelial cells were seeded within minutes onto sintered Ti and exposed to thrombosis-prone low fluid flow shear stresses. The hCB-ECs adhered and formed a confluent endothelial monolayer on sintered Ti. The exposure of sintered Ti to 4.4 dynes/cm for 20 hr immediately after rapid seeding resulted in approximately 70% cell adherence. The cell adherence was not significantly increased by additional ex vivo static culture of rapid-seeded sintered Ti before flow exposure. In addition, adherent hCB-ECs remained functional on sintered Ti, as indicated by flow-induced increase in nitric oxide secretion and reduction in platelet adhesion. After 15 day ex vivo static culture, the adherent hCB-ECs remained metabolically active, expressed endothelial cell functional marker thrombomodulin, and reduced platelet adhesion. In conclusion, our results demonstrate the feasibility of rapid-seeding sintered Ti with blood-derived hCB-ECs to generate a living antithrombotic surface.

Developing a biohybrid lung – sufficient endothelialization of poly-4-methly-1-pentene gas exchange hollow-fiber membranes

Working towards establishing a biohybrid lung with optimized hemocompatibility, this study analyzed the feasibility of establishing flow-resistant endothelium on heparin/albumin coated poly-4-methly-1-pentene hollow fiber gas exchange membranes (PMP-HFs). The seeding efficiency and proliferation of human cord blood derived endothelial cells (HCBEC) on PMP-HFs were analyzed under static conditions by WST-8 cell proliferation assay and fluorescence microscopy. The HCBEC monolayer integrity under different flow conditions was also assessed. Endothelial-specific phenotype verification, expression activation levels and thrombogenic state markers were quantified by real-time RT-PCR for cell-to-PMP-HF contact under static and dynamic conditions. The results demonstrated the feasibility of establishing a viable, confluent, and flow-resistant endothelial monolayer on the blood-contact surface of PMP-HFs, which maintained a physiological response to TNFα-stimulation and flow conditions. The endothelial phenotype, expression levels of adhesion molecules and thrombogenic state markers were unaffected by cell-to-PMP-HFs contact. These results represent a significant step towards establishing a biohybrid lung.

Prevention of rejection of allogeneic endothelial cells in a biohybrid lung by silencing HLA-class I expression

Variability in Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) remains a hurdle to the application of allogeneic cellular products. Due to insufficient autologous endothelial cell harvesting for the biohybrid lung, allogeneic human cord blood derived endothelial cells (HCBEC) were used for the endothelialization of poly-4-methyl-1-pentene (PMP) gas exchange membranes. Therefore, HLA class I expression was silenced stably in HCBECs to prevent rejection. The capacity of HLA class I-silenced HCBEC to abrogate allogeneic immune responses, their functional properties and suitability for endothelialization of PMP membranes were investigated. Delivery of β2-microglobulin (β2m)-specific shRNAs reduced β2m mRNA levels by up to 90% and caused a knockdown of HLA class I expression by up to 85%. HLA-silenced HCBEC abrogated T-cell responses and escaped antibody-mediated complement-dependent cytotoxicity. The EC phenotype and cytokine secretion profiles between HLA-expressing or -silenced HCBEC remained unaltered. EC specific activation (e.g. ICAM) and thrombogenic markers (e.g. thrombomodulin) remained unaffected by HLA-silencing, but their expression was upregulated by TNFα-stimulation. Furthermore, HLA-silenced HCBECs showed high proliferation rates and built an EC monolayer onto PMP membranes. This study represents a new therapeutic concept in the field of cell and organ transplantation and may bring the bioartificial lung as an alternative to lung transplantation closer to reality.

The Effect of Stress-Induced Senescence on Aging Human Cord Blood-Derived Endothelial Cells

We sought to determine the effect of stress-induced senescence on the permeability to albumin of aging endothelial progenitor cells. Human umbilical cord blood derived endothelial cells (hCB-ECs) and human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were treated with 200 μM H2O2 and permeability to FITC-bovine serum albumin was measured. Some samples were subsequently treated with 100μM 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP, a cAMP analog that activates the Epac1-Rap1 pathway. Cell proliferation was measured with the EdU assay. Phase contrast, and immunofluorescence images were taken to observe morphological changes in cells after exposure to H2O2. hCB-ECs exposed to H2O2 exhibited a significant increase in permeability, but their response differed from the HAECs. Low passage hCB-ECs had a permeability increase of about 82% (p<0.01) compared to aged cells which had a permeability increase of about 37% (p<0.05). This increase in permeability was reduced by treating the cells with 100 μM 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP. The younger cells exhibited a significant decrease in proliferation after being subjected to various concentrations of H2O2 whereas the aged cells exhibited a more gradual decrease in the percent of cells in S-phase. These changes also correlated with changes in cell morphology and junction staining. When placed back in the original media, the morphology and permeability of the hCB-ECs returned to the control condition, while the HAECs did not. The permeability of low and high passage hCB-ECs and HAECs initially increases in response to oxidative stress. hCB-ECs, but not HAECs, were able to recover from the stress 24 hours later. Early passage hCB-ECs were more susceptible to exogenous H2O2 than late passage hCB-ECs. The increase in permeability of hCB-ECs to H2O2 also correlated with decreased cell proliferation and changes in cell junctions.

Biohybrid lungs endothelialized with allogeneic MHC-silenced endothelial cells to prevent transplant rejection

Purpose: For development of biohybrid lungs as alternative to lung transplantation, poly-4-mehtly-1-pentene gas exchange membranes (PMP) will be endothelialized with allogeneic human cord blood derived endothelial cells (HCBEC) due to insufficient autologous cell harvesting. In this study, we stably silenced the expression of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I in HCBECs to prevent rejection caused by MHC incompatibility. The capacity and functionality of HCBECs required for endothelialisation of PMP was here investigated.