Current research on valvular heart repair has focused on tissue-engineered heart valves (TEHV) because of its potential to grow similarly to native heart valves. Decellularized xenografts are a promising solution; however, host recellularization remains challenging. In this study, decellularized porcine aortic valves were implanted into the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) of sheep to investigate recellularization potential. Porcine aortic valves, decellularized with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), were sterilized by supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) and implanted into the RVOT of five juvenile polypay sheep for 5 months (n = 5). During implantation, functionality of the valves was assessed by serial echocardiography, blood tests, and right heart pulmonary artery catheterization measurements. The explanted valves were characterized through gross examination, mechanical characterization, and immunohistochemical analysis including cell viability, phenotype, proliferation, and extracellular matrix generation. Gross examination of the valve cusps demonstrated the absence of thrombosis. Bacterial and fungal stains were negative for pathogenic microbes. Immunohistochemical analysis showed the presence of myofibroblast-like cell infiltration with formation of new collagen fibrils and the existence of an endothelial layer at the surface of the explant. Analysis of cell phenotype and morphology showed no lymphoplasmacytic infiltration. Tensile mechanical testing of valve cusps revealed an increase in stiffness while strength was maintained during implantation. The increased tensile stiffness confirms the recellularization of the cusps by collagen synthesizing cells. The current study demonstrated the feasibility of the trans-species implantation of a non-fixed decellularized porcine aortic valve into the RVOT of sheep. The implantation resulted in recellularization of the valve with sufficient hemodynamic function for the 5-month study. Thus, the study supports a potential role for use of a TEHV for the treatment of valve disease in humans.
Valvular interstitial cells from diseased aortic valve leaflets show their ability to regenerate–to proliferate and grow, to express appropriate genes and to deposit suitable proteins–in a non-degenerative nanofibrous substrate.
Sterilization of grafts is essential. Supercritical carbon dioxide, electrolyzed water, gamma radiation, ethanol-peracetic acid, and hydrogen peroxide techniques were compared for impact on sterility and mechanical integrity of porcine decellularized aortic valves. Ethanol-peracetic acid– and supercritical carbon dioxide–treated valves were found to be sterile using histology, microbe culture, and electron microscopy assays. The cusp tensile properties of supercritical carbon dioxide–treated valves were higher compared with valves treated with other techniques. Superior sterility and integrity was found in the decellularized valves treated with supercritical carbon dioxide sterilization. This sterilization technique may hold promise for other decellularized soft tissues.
The xenoantigenicity of porcine bioprosthetic valves is implicated as an etiology leading to calcification and subsequent valve failure. Decellularization of porcine valves theoretically could erase the antigenicity of the tissue leading to more durable prosthetic valves, but the effectiveness of decellularization protocols in regard to completely removing antigens has yet to be verified. Our hypothesis was that decellularization would remove the more abundant α-gal antigens but not remove all the non α-gal antigens, which could mount a response.Porcine aortic valves were decellularized with 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate for 4 days. Decellularized cusps were evaluated for α-gal epitopes by ELISA. To test for non α-gal antigens, valves were implanted into sheep. Serum was obtained from the sheep preoperatively and 1 week, 1 month, and 2 months postoperatively. This serum was utilized for anti-porcine antibody staining and for quantification of anti-pig IgM and IgG antibodies and complement.Decellularized porcine cusps had 2.8 ± 2.0% relative α-gal epitope as compared to fresh porcine aortic valve cusps and was not statistically significantly different (p = 0.4) from the human aortic valve cusp which had a 2.0 ± 0.4% relative concentration. Anti-pig IgM and IgG increased postoperatively from baseline levels. Preoperatively anti-pig IgM was 27.7 ± 1.7 μg/mL and it increased to 71.9 ± 12.1 μg/mL average of all time points postoperatively (p = 0.04). Preoperatively anti-pig IgG in sheep serum was 44.9 ± 1.5 μg/mL and it increased to 72.6 ± 6.0 μg/mL average of all time points postoperatively (p = 0.01). There was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.00007) in the serum C1q concentration before valve implantation (2.5 ± 0.2 IU/mL) and at averaged time points after valve implantation (5.3 ± 0.3 IU/mL).Decellularization with 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate does not fully eliminate non α-gal antigens; however, significant reduction in α-gal presence on decellularized cusps was observed. Clinical implications of the non α-gal antigenic response are yet to be determined. As such, evaluation of any novel decellularized xenografts must include rigorous antigen testing prior to human trials.
Fixed pericardial tissue is commonly used for commercially available xenograft valve implants, and has proven durability, but lacks the capability to remodel and grow. Decellularized porcine pericardial tissue has the promise to outperform fixed tissue and remodel, but the decellularization process has been shown to damage the collagen structure and reduce mechanical integrity of the tissue. Therefore, a comparison of uniaxial tensile properties was performed on decellularized, decellularized-sterilized, fixed, and native porcine pericardial tissue versus native valve leaflet cusps. The results of non-parametric analysis showed statistically significant differences (p < .05) between the stiffness of decellularized versus native pericardium and native cusps as well as fixed tissue, respectively; however, decellularized tissue showed large increases in elastic properties. Porosity testing of the tissues showed no statistical difference between decellularized and decell-sterilized tissue compared with native cusps (p > .05). Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that valvular endothelial and interstitial cells colonized the decellularized pericardial surface when seeded and grown for 30 days in static culture. Collagen assays and transmission electron microscopy analysis showed limited reductions in collagen with processing; yet glycosaminoglycan assays showed great reductions in the processed pericardium relative to native cusps. Decellularized pericardium had comparatively low mechanical properties among the groups studied; yet the stiffness was comparatively similar to the native cusps and demonstrated a lack of cytotoxicity. Suture retention, accelerated wear, and hydrodynamic testing of prototype decellularized and decell-sterilized valves showed positive functionality. Sterilized tissue could mimic valvular mechanical environment in vitro, therefore making it a viable potential candidate for off-the-shelf tissue-engineered valvular applications.
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