Role of proteoglycan in anti-calcification of porcine acellular valved pulmonary artery conduits

AIM:To study the role of extracellular proteoglycan in anti-calcification of porcine acellular valved pulmonary conduits for trituration of better tissue-engineered pulmonary valve conduits.METHODS:Fresh porcine pulmonary valve conduits were used in Group A,acellular porcine pulmonary valve conduits in Group B and acellular deproteoglycan porcine pulmonary valve conduits in Group C.HE staining observation under light microscope,scanning electron microscopy and proteoglycan content mensuration were used.Samples were subcutaneously buried in rats for 6 weeks and then the samples extracted from rats were quantitatively analyzed for calcification using Van Kossa silver staining and qualitatively using atomic absorption photometer.RESULTS:Pathological results under optical microscopy and electron microscopy showed that porcine pulmonary artery tissue cells were well removed and collagen fibers and elastic fibers were completely maintained.Compared with Group A and Group B,proteoglycan content of extracellular matrix in Group C significantly decreased and less calcification reaction was found in Group C.Calcium content in Group C also decreased significantly.CONCLUSION:Acellular trypsin+Triton X-100 achieves cell removal.Reduction of extracellular matrix proteoglycan by hyaluronidase digestion decreases further calcification reaction of acellular porcine pulmonary valve conduits,which may provide better acellular de-matrix scaffolds for building up tissue-engineered pulmonary valve conduits.