Obtaining and Characterization of Cells from Native Lung and Diaphragm Rat Tissues for Recellularization of Tissue Engineered Constructs

The choice of cellular resourses for recellularization of biological scaffolds and synthetic matrices remains a topical issue in regenerative medicine. Isolation of stromal cells from native organs and their utilization for recellularization of biological matrices appears to be a promising alternative for the use of mesenchymal stromal cells. The present work presents modified protocols for obtaining stromal cells from homogenized rat lung and diaphragm tissues. Cell culture typing and cell viability evaluation on the scaffolds was followed by the orthotopic transplantation of a tissue engineered diaphragm construct in rats with histological characteristics of explanted tissue after 24 and 45 days. Recellularized stromal cell scaffolds from native tissues with otherwise equal properties caused less noticeable inflammation reaction compared with recellularized mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). The intensity of fibrosis was also lower then when using MSCs for scaffold repopulation.