Mechanical Stimulation Induces Vasa Vasorum Capillary Alignment in a Fibrin-Based Tunica Adventitia. 2022

Florian Helms, and Sarah Zippusch, and Thomas Aper, and Stefan Kalies, and Alexander Heisterkamp, and Axel Haverich, and Ulrike Böer, and Mathias Wilhelmi
Vascular Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Generation of bioartificial blood vessels with a physiological three-layered wall architecture is a long pursued goal in vascular tissue engineering. While considerable advances have been made to resemble the physiological tunica intima and media morphology and function in bioartificial vessels, only very few studies have targeted the generation of a tunica adventitia, including its characteristic vascular network known as the vasa vasorum, which are essential for graft nutrition and integration. In healthy native blood vessels, capillary vasa vasorum are aligned longitudinally to the vessel axis. Thus, inducing longitudinal alignment of capillary tubes to generate a physiological tunica adventitia morphology and function may be advantageous in bioengineered vessels as well. In this study, we investigated the effect of two biomechanical stimulation parameters, longitudinal tension and physiological cyclic stretch, on tube alignment in capillary networks formed by self-assembly of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in tunica adventitia-equivalents of fibrin-based bioartificial blood vessels. Moreover, the effect of changes of the biomechanical environment on network remodeling after initial tube formation was analyzed. Both, longitudinal tension and cyclic stretch by pulsatile perfusion induced physiological capillary tube alignment parallel to the longitudinal vessel axis. This effect was even more pronounced when both biomechanical factors were applied simultaneously, which resulted in an alignment of 57.2 ± 5.2% within 5° of the main vessel axis. Opposed to that, a random tube orientation was observed in vessels incubated statically. Scanning electron microscopy showed that longitudinal tension also resulted in longitudinal alignment of fibrin fibrils, which may function as a guidance structure for directed capillary tube formation. Moreover, existing microvascular networks showed distinct remodeling in response to addition or withdrawal of mechanical stimulation with corresponding increase or decrease of the degree of alignment. With longitudinal tension and cyclic stretch, we identified two mechanical stimuli that facilitate the generation of a prevascularized tunica adventitia-equivalent with physiological tube alignment in bioartificial vascular grafts. Impact statement Fibrin-based bioartificial vessels represent a promising regenerative approach to generate vascular grafts with superior biocompatibility and hemocompatibility compared to currently available synthetic graft materials. Precapillarization of bioartificial vascular grafts may improve nutrition of the vessel wall and integration of the graft into the target organism's microvasculature. In native vessels, physiological vasa vasorum alignment is pivotal for proper function of the tunica adventitia. Thus, it is necessary to induce longitudinal capillary alignment in the tunica adventitia of bioengineered vessels as well to secure long-term graft patency and function. This alignment can be reliably achieved by controlled biomechanical stimulation in vitro.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D005337 Fibrin A protein derived from FIBRINOGEN in the presence of THROMBIN, which forms part of the blood clot. Antithrombin I
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014651 Vasa Vasorum Nutrient blood vessels which supply the walls of large arteries or veins. Vasa Vasorums,Vasorum, Vasa,Vasorums, Vasa
D014680 Veins The vessels carrying blood away from the CAPILLARY BEDS. Vein
D042783 Endothelial Cells Highly specialized EPITHELIAL CELLS that line the HEART; BLOOD VESSELS; and lymph vessels, forming the ENDOTHELIUM. They are polygonal in shape and joined together by TIGHT JUNCTIONS. The tight junctions allow for variable permeability to specific macromolecules that are transported across the endothelial layer. Capillary Endothelial Cells,Lymphatic Endothelial Cells,Vascular Endothelial Cells,Capillary Endothelial Cell,Cell, Capillary Endothelial,Cell, Endothelial,Cell, Lymphatic Endothelial,Cell, Vascular Endothelial,Cells, Capillary Endothelial,Cells, Endothelial,Cells, Lymphatic Endothelial,Cells, Vascular Endothelial,Endothelial Cell,Endothelial Cell, Capillary,Endothelial Cell, Lymphatic,Endothelial Cell, Vascular,Endothelial Cells, Capillary,Endothelial Cells, Lymphatic,Endothelial Cells, Vascular,Lymphatic Endothelial Cell,Vascular Endothelial Cell
D063194 Adventitia The outermost covering of organs, blood vessels, and other such structures in the body. Adventitial Tissue,Adventitious Tissue,Tunica Adventitia,Tunica Externa,Adventitia, Tunica,Adventitial Tissues,Adventitious Tissues,Tissue, Adventitial,Tissue, Adventitious,Tissues, Adventitial,Tissues, Adventitious

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