A tissue-engineered uterus supports live births in rabbits
Open Access
- 28 June 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Nature Biotechnology
- Vol. 38 (11), 1280-+
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-020-0547-7
Abstract
The rabbit uterus is reconstructed using synthetic scaffolds seeded with cells. Bioengineered uterine tissue could provide a treatment option for women with uterine factor infertility. In large animal models, reconstruction of the uterus has been demonstrated only with xenogeneic tissue grafts. Here we use biodegradable polymer scaffolds seeded with autologous cells to restore uterine structure and function in rabbits. Rabbits underwent a subtotal uterine excision and were reconstructed with autologous cell-seeded constructs, with nonseeded scaffolds or by suturing. At 6 months postimplantation, only the cell-seeded engineered uteri developed native tissue-like structures, including organized luminal/glandular epithelium, stroma, vascularized mucosa and two-layered myometrium. Only rabbits with cell-seeded constructs had normal pregnancies (four in ten) in the reconstructed segment of the uterus and supported fetal development to term and live birth. With further development, this approach may provide a regenerative medicine solution to uterine factor infertility.Funding Information
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | DHHS Office of the Secretary (T32-EB014836-05, T32-EB014836-05)
- State of North Carolina
This publication has 39 references indexed in Scilit:
- Transplantation of an allogeneic vein bioengineered with autologous stem cells: a proof-of-concept studyThe Lancet, 2012
- Reconstruction of Endometrium from Human Endometrial Side Population Cell LinesPLOS ONE, 2011
- Tissue-engineered autologous urethras for patients who need reconstruction: an observational studyThe Lancet, 2011
- Bioengineered corporal tissue for structural and functional restoration of the penisProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2009
- The peritoneal cavity as a bioreactor for tissue engineering visceral organs: bladder, uterus and vas deferensJournal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2008
- The uterus and fertilityFertility and Sterility, 2007
- Engineering tissues, organs and cellsJournal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2007
- Regeneration of Uterine Horn Using Porcine Small Intestinal Submucosa Grafts in RabbitsJournal of Investigative Surgery, 2004
- Engineering of Vaginal Tissuein VivoTissue Engineering, 2003
- Segmental Uterine Horn Replacement in the Rat Using a Biodegradable Microporous Synthetic TubeArtificial Organs, 1986