Hemodialysis bilayer bionic blood vessels developed by the mechanical stimulation of hepatitis B viral X(HBX)gene-transfected hepatic stellate cells

Liu Hongyi; Zhou Yuanyuan; Guo Peng; Zheng Xiongwei; Chen Weibin; Zhang Shichao; FU YU; Zhou XU; Wan Zheng; Zhao Bin; Zhao Yilin

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Hemodialysis bilayer bionic blood vessels developed by the mechanical stimulation of hepatitis B viral X(HBX)gene-transfected hepatic stellate cells

Author: LIU HONGYI ^{1
,

2} ; ZHOU YUANYUAN ; GUO PENG ; ZHENG XIONGWEI ; CHEN WEIBIN ; ZHANG SHICHAO ; FU YU ; ZHOU XU ; WAN ZHENG ; ZHAO BIN ; ZHAO YILIN
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1. Department of Oncology and Vascular Interventional Radiology,Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University,School of Medicine,Xiamen University,Xiamen 361004,China
2. School of Medicine,Xiamen University,Xiamen 361102,China
Keywords: Composite bilayer bionic blood vessel; Extracellular matrix(ECM); Hepatic stellate cells(HSCs); Hepatitis B viral X(HBX)gene; Mechanical force
From: Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 2024;25(6):499-512
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Artificial vascular graft(AVG)fistula is widely used for hemodialysis treatment in patients with renal failure.However,it has poor elasticity and compliance,leading to stenosis and thrombosis.The ideal artificial blood vessel for dialysis should replicate the structure and components of a real artery,which is primarily maintained by collagen in the extracellular matrix(ECM)of arterial cells.Studies have revealed that in hepatitis B virus(HBV)-induced liver fibrosis,hepatic stellate cells(HSCs)become hyperactive and produce excessive ECM fibers.Furthermore,mechanical stimulation can encourage ECM secretion and remodeling of a fiber structure.Based on the above factors,we transfected HSCs with the hepatitis B viral X(HBX)gene for simulating the process of HBV infection.Subsequently,these HBX-HSCs were implanted into a polycaprolactone-polyurethane(PCL-PU)bilayer scaffold in which the inner layer is dense and the outer layer consists of pores,which was mechanically stimulated to promote the secretion of collagen nanofiber from the HBX-HSCs and to facilitate crosslinking with the scaffold.We obtained an ECM-PCL-PU composite bionic blood vessel that could act as access for dialysis after decellularization.Then,the vessel scaffold was implanted into a rabbit's neck arteriovenous fistula model.It exhibited strong tensile strength and smooth blood flow and formed autologous blood vessels in the rabbit's body.Our study demonstrates the use of human cells to create biomimetic dialysis blood vessels,providing a novel approach for creating clinical vascular access for dialysis.