In vitro Characterization of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Chen, Minna
2012-04-18
Thumbnail Image

View/Download File

MinnaChen2012.pdf (1.19 MB)

Persistent link to this item

https://hdl.handle.net/11299/123123
Statistics
View Statistics

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Title

In vitro Characterization of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Authors

Published Date

2012-04-18

Publisher

Type

Presentation

Abstract

The leading cause of death in the United States is coronary heart disease, which is characterized by the narrowing of blood vessels that deliver blood and oxygen to the heart. A possible way to treat this condition is to bypass the blocked arteries, using an artery or vein taken from elsewhere in the patient’s body to go around the blocked region. However, many candidates for these surgeries lack adequate blood vessels that can be used for such purposes. For this reason, it is important to develop a tissue engineered vascular graft (TEVG) that can be used in place of a native vessel. In the Tranquillo Lab, the method for creating TEVGs involves a cell-seeded fibrin gel that is remodeled over time. Initial animal studies have shown that TEVGs created in this way contain proteins that promote clotting. In native vessels, the surface exposed to blood flow is covered by a monolayer of endothelial cells, which prevent clotting. Endothelial cells are also highly immunogenic, so TEVGs created using endothelial cells would have to be made using each patient’s own cells. In this study, we propose to use a monolayer of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are non-immunogenic, on this surface instead. We have shown that, when exposed to shear stress, MSCs exhibit decreased levels of platelet adhesion. Staining for endothelial cell markers suggests that we may be able to differentiate MSCs to a functional endothelial cell phenotype. If MSCs can be used as an alternative to endothelial cells in TEVGs, this therapy can potentially be available “off-the-shelf” to a large number of patients in the future.

Keywords

Description

Mentor: Professor Robert T. Tranquillo

Related to

Replaces

License

Collections

UMTC Undergraduate Research Presentations and Papers (UROP)

Series/Report Number

Funding information

This research was supported by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP).

Isbn identifier

Doi identifier

Previously Published Citation

Suggested citation

Chen, Minna. (2012). In vitro Characterization of Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/123123.

Content distributed via the University Digital Conservancy may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor. By using these files, users agree to the Terms of Use. Materials in the UDC may contain content that is disturbing and/or harmful. For more information, please see our statement on harmful content in digital repositories.