CULTURE OF HUMAN ADULT ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS ON ENDARTERECTOMY SURFACES

Objectives: Endothelial cell seeding of prosthetic grafts has not been as successful as initially hoped and the application of seeding techn ology to alternative reconstructive procedures such as endarterectomy and angioplasty has been increasingly considered. The success of such seeding depends on the ability of the seeded cells to attach to, and f orm a monolayer on the endarterectomised vessel wall which was the aim of this study. Methods: Using a seeding chamber model, heterologous h uman adult endothelial cells were seeded onto fresh human endarterecto my specimens and cultured. Studies of endothelial call adherence to en darterectomy specimens were performed using Ill-Indium oxine labelled cells using methodology analogous to graft seeding. Results: Mean endo thelial cell adherence of 70% (S.D. 10%) after 1 h incubation was achi eved and the successful development of a monolayer of human adult veno us endothelial cells on endarterectomised arteries was demonstrated in vitro. Conclusions: These results indicate that closed endarterectomy appears to offer a surface with cell attachment that is superior to p rosthetic grafts. Where femoral endarterectomy is appropriate, endothe lial seeding potentially offers a method of reducing thrombogenicity a nd intimal hyperplasia, improving patency and avoiding a prosthetic gr aft whilst preserving collateral circulation and autologous vein.