Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007; 55 - V_49
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-967329

Cryopreserved prenatal progenitor cells as cell source for cardiovascular tissue engineering

D Schmidt 1, C Breymann 2, J Achermann 3, B Odermatt 4, M Genoni 1, G Zund 1, SP Hoerstrup 1
  • 1Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery and Department of Surgical Research, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  • 2GGS (OBGYN Center Seefeld / Hirslanden Clinic Group Zurich) & Feto Maternal Haematology Research Group, Obstetric Research, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  • 3Human Genetics Laboratory, Genetica, Zurich, Switzerland
  • 4Institute for Clinical Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Objectives: Stem cells and progenitor cells are promising cell sources fot the engineering of living, autologous tissues due to a high capacity of growth, repair and regeneration. Here we focused on the use of cryopreserved prenatal progenitor cells as a potential therapeutic new strategy for the repair of congenital defects and as a life-long available cell source for tissue engineering and regenerative concepts.

Methods: Prenatal progenitor cells were harvested from different fetal tissues including umbilical cord blood and placenta. After proliferation and differentiation, both cryopreserved and freshly isolated cells were analysed by immunohistochemistry and flowcytometry using antibodies against vimentin, desmin, a-SMA, CD 31, vWF, thrombomdulin. Furthermore, cells were seeded onto three-dimensional biodegradable heart valve leaflet scaffolds fabricated from PGA/P4HB. The quality of resulting tissues was analysed by histology, immunohistochemistry, extracellular matrix (ECM)- analysis and biomechanical testing

Results: Pre-seeding, cells showed constant phenotypes after cryopreservation. Histology of the cardiovascular constructs demonstrated layered viable tissue formation in all samples. Major constituents of ECM such as collagen and proteoglycans were biochemically detected in all samples. Stress-strain properties of the neo tissues showed normal profiles.

Conclusions: Living engineered cardiovascular tissue replacements can be successfully generated from cryopreserved prenatal progenitor cells. Thus, cryopreserved prenatal progenitor cells may enable the tissue engineering of living, autologous replacement materials for congenital cardiac interventions and represent a life-long available cell source for cell based regenerative concepts in adults.