Kidney Week

Abstract: FR-OR088

An Autologous Cellularized In Vivo Engineered Vascular Graft Capable of Remodeling to a Non-Thrombogenic Blood Vessel upon Arteriovenous Grafting in Adult Goats

Session Information

• Improving Vascular Access Outcomes
  October 26, 2018 | Location: 6B, San Diego Convention Center
  Abstract Time: 04:30 PM - 04:42 PM

Category: Dialysis

• 704 Dialysis: Vascular Access

Authors

• Geelhoed, Wouter, LUMC, Leiden, Netherlands

Wouter Geelhoed

• van der Bogt, Koen E.A., Haaglanden Medisch Centrum/LUMC, Den Haag, Netherlands

Koen E.A. van der Bogt,

• Rothuizen, Carolien, Leiden University Medical Center/Stafsecretariat Nephrology, Leiden, Netherlands

Carolien Rothuizen,

• Hamming, Jaap, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands

Jaap Hamming,

• van Agen, Maarten Sebastiaan, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Hague, Netherlands

Maarten Sebastiaan van Agen,

• de Boer, Hetty C., Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands

Hetty C. de Boer,

• Hinz, Boris, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Boris Hinz,

• Kislaya, Ankur, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands

Ankur Kislaya,

• Van Zonneveld, Anton Jan, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands

Anton Jan Van Zonneveld,

• Rabelink, Ton J., LUMC, Leiden, Netherlands

Ton J. Rabelink,

• Moroni, Lorenzo, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands

Lorenzo Moroni,

• Rotmans, Joris I., LUMC, Leiden, Netherlands

Joris I. Rotmans,

Background

The durability of prosthetic vascular grafts used for hemodialysis access is poor due to venous stenosis, limiting vascular access. We present a method to create tissue engineered blood vessels (TEBVs) capable of developing in vivo towards a functional vascular graft.

Methods

Polymeric rods are implanted subcutaneously in goats for 1 month, resulting in the formation of fibrocellular tissue capsules (TC’s) with sufficient mechanical strength to restrain arterial pressure. The TC’s then are grafted as arteriovenous conduit between the carotid artery and jugular vein. After 1 or 2 months in the vasculature the grafts were harvested.

Results

Ex vivo perfusion showed grafts were less thrombogenic than initial TCs, and also when compared to ePTFE grafts. At 1 month the TEBVs were composed of vascular smooth muscle cell-like cells, with confirmed contractility. At 2 months, complete endothelialisation and elastin formation was also observed, while in vivo graft patency was comparable to ePTFE.

Conclusion

Here, we demonstrate the in vivo remodelling capacity of TC into TEBV, and their potential as replacements for prosthetic vascular grafts.