Endothelialization of PTFE vascular grafts under flow induces significant cell changes

Background: To minimize thrombogeneity of small diameter PTFE grafts they are usually coated in vitro with endothelial cells under static culture conditions. The disadvantage of this technique is that a cell layer is formed that fails to withstand shear stress typical in normal blood flow. Method: Since the in vivo functional and structural status of endothelial cells correlates with the applied shear stress, we developed a computer-controlled perfusion system to seed and culture cells on PTFE-grafts up to a confluent monolayer under the influence of increasing shear stress. The confluence of endothelial coating was defined by immunohistological staining of cross sections, and by upper light microscopy of flattened graft samples. In addition, the expression of fibronectin as an important adhesion molecule was estimated. Results and discussion: The application of pulsatile shear stress (6.6 dyn/cm(2), 5 min) to grafts endothelialized under perfusion (n = 7) did not lead to a disruption of the confluent cell layer. In contrast, a 5 min long shear stress of 3 dyn/cm(2) was sufficient to wash more than 50% of cells off the PTFE-graft cultured under static conditions (n = 6). The perfusion cultures showed a significantly higher proliferation rate in comparison with static cultures. This effect was reproducibile in both serum-containing and serum-free culture media. The expression of fibronectin by endothelial cells was significantly higher in the perfused graft compared to the static one. These results suggest the practicability of endothelialized PTFE vascular grafts, preconditioned to shear rates similar to the in vivo situation, as an alternative bypass material in cardiac surgery.