Esophagus tissue engineering: in situ generation of rudimentary tubular vascularized esophageal conduit using the ovine model
- 1 May 2010
- journal article
- Published by Elsevier BV in Journal of Pediatric Surgery
- Vol. 45 (5), 859-864
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2010.02.005
Abstract
Esophagus replacement using the present surgical techniques is associated with significant morbidity. Tissue engineering of the esophagus may provide the solution for esophageal loss. In our attempts to engineer the esophagus, this study aimed to investigate the feasibility of generating vascularized in situ esophageal conduits using the ovine model. Esophageal biopsies were obtained from lambs, and ovine esophageal epithelial cells (OEEC) were proliferated. The OEEC were seeded on to bovine collagen sheets preseeded with fibroblasts. After 2 weeks of maintaining the constructs in vitro, the constructs were tubularized on stents to create a tube resembling the esophagus and implanted into the omentum for in situ tissue engineering. The edges of the omentum were sutured using nonabsorbable suture material. The implanted constructs were retrieved after 8 and 12 weeks. The omental wrap provided vascular growth within and around the constructs as they were integrated along the outer surface area of the scaffold. After removal of the stents, the engineered conduit revealed a structure similar to the esophagus. Histologic investigations demonstrated esophageal epithelium organization into patches on the luminal side and vascular ingrowths on the conduit's outer perimeter. Our study demonstrated the seeding of OEEC on collagen scaffolds and formation of a rudimentary conduit resembling esophageal morphology after in situ omental implantation. Vascular coverage and ingrowth in the periphery of the construct could also be demonstrated. These findings hold future promise for the engineering of the esophagus with improved microarchitecture.Keywords
This publication has 32 references indexed in Scilit:
- Esophagus tissue engineering: in vitro generation of esophageal epithelial cell sheets and viability on scaffoldJournal of Pediatric Surgery, 2009
- Oesophageal Replacement in ChildrenThe Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2008
- Esophageal atresiaJournal of Pediatric Surgery, 2006
- Oesophageal substitution with free and pedicled jejunum: short- and long-term outcomesPediatric Surgery International, 2006
- Tissue engineering: Present concepts and strategiesJournal of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons, 2005
- An Artificial Esophagus Constructed of Cultured Human Esophageal Epithelial Cells, Fibroblasts, Polyglycolic Acid Mesh, and CollagenASAIO Journal, 1999
- Esophageal SubstitutionSeminars in Pediatric Surgery, 1998
- Intestinal bypass of the esophagusJournal of Pediatric Surgery, 1996
- An Artificial Esophagus Consisting of Cultured Human Esophageal Epithelial Cells, Polyglycolic Acid Mesh, and CollagenASAIO Journal, 1994
- Development of a technique for jejunal interposition in long-gap esophageal atresiaJournal of Pediatric Surgery, 1993