Creation of long-lasting blood vessels

N Koike, D Fukumura, O Gralla, P Au, JS Schechner… - Nature, 2004 - nature.com
N Koike, D Fukumura, O Gralla, P Au, JS Schechner, RK Jain
Nature, 2004nature.com
The construction of stable blood vessels is a fundamental challenge for tissue engineering
in regenerative medicine. Although certain genes can be introduced into vascular cells to
enhance their survival and proliferation, these manipulations may be oncogenic. We show
here that a network of long-lasting blood vessels can be formed in mice by co-implantation
of vascular endothelial cells and mesenchymal precursor cells, by-passing the need for risky
genetic manipulations. These networks are stable and functional for one year in vivo.
Abstract
The construction of stable blood vessels is a fundamental challenge for tissue engineering in regenerative medicine. Although certain genes can be introduced into vascular cells to enhance their survival and proliferation, these manipulations may be oncogenic. We show here that a network of long-lasting blood vessels can be formed in mice by co-implantation of vascular endothelial cells and mesenchymal precursor cells, by-passing the need for risky genetic manipulations. These networks are stable and functional for one year in vivo.
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