First human transplantation of a bioengineered airway tissue Paolo MacChiarini, MD, PhD, Thorsten Walles, MD, Christian Biancosino, Heike Mertsching, PhD The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Volume 128, Issue 4, Pages 638-641 (October 2004) DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2004.02.042
Figure 1 Process of engineering the bioartificial patch. Muscle cells and fibroblasts are isolated from a biopsy specimen obtained from the patient. These cells are seeded on a biologic matrix representing a collagen network generated from a decellularized porcine jejunal segment. During the incubation period, the cells start to remodel the xenogenic matrix and replace it with autologous connective tissue. Within 4 weeks, this autologous bioartificial implant can be clinically used. The computed tomographic scan of the chest 6 weeks after graft implantation shows the site (arrow) where the tissue-engineered patch was transplanted. The right pleural cavity is completely filled with the transposed omentum major and right subscapular muscle. The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2004 128, 638-641DOI: (10.1016/j.jtcvs.2004.02.042)
Figure 2 Histologic composition of the bioartificial patch. A, Acellular porcine collagen matrix. (Original magnification 200× hematoxylin and eosin staining.) Notice the absence of cellular components and the red-stained collagen fibers. B, Reseeded patch before implantation. Antivimentin immunohistology depicting fibroblast and smooth muscle cell seeding. (Original magnification 200×.) C, Brush cytology from the patch surface showing respiratory epithelium (12th week). Arrows indicate epithelial cilia. D, Immunhistochemical staining for respiratory epithelium (12th week). (Original magnification 200×; Villin antibody.) The asterisk marks the tracheal lumen. The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2004 128, 638-641DOI: (10.1016/j.jtcvs.2004.02.042)