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Review
. 2017;3(4):279-289.
doi: 10.1007/s40778-017-0108-2. Epub 2017 Oct 26.

Autologous Cell Seeding in Tracheal Tissue Engineering

Elizabeth F Maughan  1   2 , Robert E Hynds  1 , Toby J Proctor  3 , Sam M Janes  1 , Martin Elliott  4 , Martin A Birchall  5 , Mark W Lowdell  3 , Paolo De Coppi  2   5
Affiliations
Review

Autologous Cell Seeding in Tracheal Tissue Engineering

Elizabeth F Maughan et al. Curr Stem Cell Rep. 2017.

Abstract

Purpose of review: There is no consensus on the best technology to be employed for tracheal replacement. One particularly promising approach is based upon tissue engineering and involves applying autologous cells to transplantable scaffolds. Here, we present the reported pre-clinical and clinical data exploring the various options for achieving such seeding.

Recent findings: Various cell combinations, delivery strategies, and outcome measures are described. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the most widely employed cell type in tracheal bioengineering. Airway epithelial cell luminal seeding is also widely employed, alone or in combination with other cell types. Combinations have thus far shown the greatest promise. Chondrocytes may improve mechanical outcomes in pre-clinical models, but have not been clinically tested. Rapid or pre-vascularization of scaffolds is an important consideration. Overall, there are few published objective measures of post-seeding cell viability, survival, or overall efficacy.

Summary: There is no clear consensus on the optimal cell-scaffold combination and mechanisms for seeding. Systematic in vivo work is required to assess differences between tracheal grafts seeded with combinations of clinically deliverable cell types using objective outcome measures, including those for functionality and host immune response.

Keywords: Autologous cell seeding; Clinical translation; Pre-clinical models; Tissue engineering; Trachea.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

Elizabeth F. Maughan, Robert E. Hynds, Toby J. Proctor, Sam M. Janes, Martin Elliott, Martin A. Birchall, Mark W. Lowdell, and Paolo De Coppi declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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