Abstract
The contraction and relaxation of VSM (vascular smooth muscle) are responsible for the maintenance of vascular tone, which is a major determinant of blood pressure. However, the molecular events leading to the contraction and relaxation of VSM are poorly understood. The development of three-dimensional bioengineered tissues provides an opportunity to investigate the molecular events controlling vascular tone in vitro. In the present study we used fibrin-gel casting to bioengineer functional VSM strips from primary human aortic VSM cells. Our bioengineered VSM strips are functionally similar to VSM in vivo and remained viable in culture for up to 5 weeks. VSM strips demonstrate spontaneous basal tone and can generate an active force (contraction) of up to 85.2 μN on stimulation with phenylephrine. Bioengineered VSM strips exhibited Ca2+-dependent contraction and calcium-independent relaxation. The development of functional bioengineered VSM tissue provides a new in vitro model system that can be used to investigate the molecular events controlling vascular tone.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 155-163 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Cell culture, contractile force
- Three-dimensional (3D) construct
- Tissue engineering
- Vascular smooth muscle
- Vascular tone 3
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Biochemistry
- Biotechnology
Cite this
Bioengineering functional human aortic vascular smooth-muscle strips in vitro. / Hecker, Louise; Khait, Luda; Welsh, Michael J.; Birla, Ravi.
In: Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry, Vol. 50, No. 3, 08.2008, p. 155-163.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Bioengineering functional human aortic vascular smooth-muscle strips in vitro
AU - Hecker, Louise
AU - Khait, Luda
AU - Welsh, Michael J.
AU - Birla, Ravi
PY - 2008/8
Y1 - 2008/8
N2 - The contraction and relaxation of VSM (vascular smooth muscle) are responsible for the maintenance of vascular tone, which is a major determinant of blood pressure. However, the molecular events leading to the contraction and relaxation of VSM are poorly understood. The development of three-dimensional bioengineered tissues provides an opportunity to investigate the molecular events controlling vascular tone in vitro. In the present study we used fibrin-gel casting to bioengineer functional VSM strips from primary human aortic VSM cells. Our bioengineered VSM strips are functionally similar to VSM in vivo and remained viable in culture for up to 5 weeks. VSM strips demonstrate spontaneous basal tone and can generate an active force (contraction) of up to 85.2 μN on stimulation with phenylephrine. Bioengineered VSM strips exhibited Ca2+-dependent contraction and calcium-independent relaxation. The development of functional bioengineered VSM tissue provides a new in vitro model system that can be used to investigate the molecular events controlling vascular tone.
AB - The contraction and relaxation of VSM (vascular smooth muscle) are responsible for the maintenance of vascular tone, which is a major determinant of blood pressure. However, the molecular events leading to the contraction and relaxation of VSM are poorly understood. The development of three-dimensional bioengineered tissues provides an opportunity to investigate the molecular events controlling vascular tone in vitro. In the present study we used fibrin-gel casting to bioengineer functional VSM strips from primary human aortic VSM cells. Our bioengineered VSM strips are functionally similar to VSM in vivo and remained viable in culture for up to 5 weeks. VSM strips demonstrate spontaneous basal tone and can generate an active force (contraction) of up to 85.2 μN on stimulation with phenylephrine. Bioengineered VSM strips exhibited Ca2+-dependent contraction and calcium-independent relaxation. The development of functional bioengineered VSM tissue provides a new in vitro model system that can be used to investigate the molecular events controlling vascular tone.
KW - Cell culture, contractile force
KW - Three-dimensional (3D) construct
KW - Tissue engineering
KW - Vascular smooth muscle
KW - Vascular tone 3
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U2 - 10.1042/BA20070139
DO - 10.1042/BA20070139
M3 - Article
VL - 50
SP - 155
EP - 163
JO - Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry
JF - Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry
SN - 0885-4513
IS - 3
ER -