Decellularization

A decellularized aortic homograft

Decellularization (also spelled decellularisation in British English) is the process used in biomedical engineering to isolate the extracellular matrix (ECM) of a tissue from its inhabiting cells, leaving an ECM scaffold of the original tissue, which can be used in artificial organ and tissue regeneration. Organ and tissue transplantation treat a variety of medical problems, ranging from end organ failure to cosmetic surgery. One of the greatest limitations to organ transplantation derives from organ rejection caused by antibodies of the transplant recipient reacting to donor antigens on cell surfaces within the donor organ.[1] Because of unfavorable immune responses, transplant patients suffer a lifetime taking immunosuppressing medication. Stephen F. Badylak pioneered the process of decellularization at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.[2] This process creates a natural biomaterial to act as a scaffold for cell growth, differentiation and tissue development. By recellularizing an ECM scaffold with a patient’s own cells, the adverse immune response is eliminated. Nowadays, commercially available ECM scaffolds are available for a wide variety of tissue engineering. Using peracetic acid to decellularize ECM scaffolds have been found to be false and only disinfects the tissue.

With a wide variety of decellularization-inducing treatments available, combinations of physical, chemical, and enzymatic treatments are carefully monitored to ensure that the ECM scaffold maintains the structural and chemical integrity of the original tissue.[2] Scientists can use the acquired ECM scaffold to reproduce a functional organ by introducing progenitor cells, or adult stem cells (ASCs), and allowing them to differentiate within the scaffold to develop into the desired tissue. The produced organ or tissue can be transplanted into a patient. In contrast to cell surface antibodies, the biochemical components of the ECM are conserved between hosts, so the risk of a hostile immune response is minimized.[3][4] Proper conservation of ECM fibers, growth factors, and other proteins is imperative to the progenitor cells differentiating into the proper adult cells. The success of decellularization varies based on the components and density of the applied tissue and its origin.[5] The applications to the decellularizing method of producing a biomaterial scaffold for tissue regeneration are present in cardiac, dermal, pulmonary, renal, and other types of tissues. Complete organ reconstruction is still in the early levels of development.[6]

  1. ^ Colaco M, Atala A (2014). "The Future of Transplant Biology and Surgery". Interdisciplinary Medicine. 15: 206–218.
  2. ^ a b Gilbert TW, Sellaro TL, Badylak SF (July 2006). "Decellularization of tissues and organs". Biomaterials. 27 (19): 3675–3683. doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2006.02.014. PMID 16519932.
  3. ^ Exposito JY, D'Alessio M, Solursh M, Ramirez F (August 1992). "Sea urchin collagen evolutionarily homologous to vertebrate pro-alpha 2(I) collagen". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 267 (22): 15559–15562. doi:10.1016/S0021-9258(19)49572-0. PMID 1639795.
  4. ^ Constantinou CD, Jimenez SA (February 1991). "Structure of cDNAs encoding the triple-helical domain of murine alpha 2 (VI) collagen chain and comparison to human and chick homologues. Use of polymerase chain reaction and partially degenerate oligonucleotide for generation of novel cDNA clones". Matrix. 11 (1): 1–9. doi:10.1016/s0934-8832(11)80221-0. PMID 1709252.
  5. ^ Crapo PM, Gilbert TW, Badylak SF (April 2011). "An overview of tissue and whole organ decellularization processes". Biomaterials. 32 (12): 3233–3243. doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.01.057. PMC 3084613. PMID 21296410.
  6. ^ Song JJ, Ott HC (August 2011). "Organ engineering based on decellularized matrix scaffolds". Trends in Molecular Medicine. 17 (8): 424–432. doi:10.1016/j.molmed.2011.03.005. PMID 21514224.