Date of Award
2011
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Anatomy and Cell Biology
Supervisor
Dr. Kem A. Rogers
Second Advisor
Dr. Derek R. Boughner
Abstract
Heart valve tissue engineering (HVTE) has the capacity to overcome limitations in current valve design, enabling the creation of an autologous valve replacement. We propose that treating radial artery cells (RACs) with a combination of growth factors (GFs) may produce cells more similar to valve interstitial cells (VICs) for HVTE. RACs were treated with combinations of epidermal GF (E), basic fibroblast GF (F), platelet-derived GF (P), and transforming GF-beta 1 (T). Alpha smooth muscle actin (aSMA) expression was examined using real time polymerase chain reaction and confocal microscopy. A reduction in aSMA expression indicated cell transdifferentiation. A combination of E, F, and P (EFP) decreased aSMA protein and gene expression to approximately 20% and 1% of the controls, respectively. This change was sustained following 72 hours of GF removal. We have demonstrated that aSMA expression in EFP-treated RACs is comparable to levels in VICs, suggesting these cells may be used for HVTE.
Recommended Citation
Redwood, Jennifer Nicole, "THE PORCINE RADIAL ARTERY SMOOTH MUSCLE CELL AS A VALVE INTERSTITIAL CELL SURROGATE FOR HEART VALVE TISSUE ENGINEERING" (2011). Digitized Theses. 3577.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/3577