This study was performed in the research program of the BioMedical Materials (BMM) institute. BMM is cofunded by the Dutch Ministry of Economic affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. The financial contribution of the Nederlandse Hartstichting is gratefully acknowledged.

1. Culture of Human Vena Saphena Cells
<ol>
	<li>Isolate cells from the vena saphena magna, acquired from a donor in accordance to guidelines for secondary use material, according to the protocol by Schnell et al.9 and store these in liquid nitrogen. From the part of the vena saphena magna from one donor cut pieces of 2 x 2 mm to culture in a six-well plate. Use 2 pieces per well. Generally enough cells can be obtained to fill about 3 vials with 0.25 x 106 cells in liquid nitrogen. HVSCs ...

<ol>
	<li>Beamish, J. A., He, P., Kottke-Marchant, K., Marchant, R. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Molecular+regulation+of+contractile+smooth+muscle+cell+phenotype:+implications+for+vascular+tissue+engineering.">Molecular regulation of contractile smooth muscle cell phenotype: implications for vascular tissue engineering.</a> Tissue Eng. Part B Rev. 16, 467-491 (2010).</li><li>Isenberg, B. C., Tranquillo, R. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Long-term+cyclic+distention+enhances+the+mechanical+properties+of+collagen-based+media-equivalents.">Long-term cyclic distention enhances the mechanical properties of collagen-based media-equivalents.</a> Ann. Biomed. Eng. 31, 937-949 (2003).</li><li>Nichol, J. W., Khan, A. R., Birbach, M., Gaynor, J. W., Gooch, K. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hemodynamics+and+axial+strain+additively+increase+matrix+remodeling+and+MMP-9,+but+not+MMP-2,+expression+in+arteries+engineered+by+directed+remodeling.">Hemodynamics and axial strain additively increase matrix remodeling and MMP-9, but not MMP-2, expression in arteries engineered by directed remodeling.</a> Tissue Eng. Part A. 15, 1281-1290 (2009).</li><li>Sander, E. A., Stylianopoulos, T., Tranquillo, R. T., Barocas, V. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Image-based+multiscale+modeling+predicts+tissue-level+and+network-level+fiber+reorganization+in+stretched+cell-compacted+collagen+gels.">Image-based multiscale modeling predicts tissue-level and network-level fiber reorganization in stretched cell-compacted collagen gels.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 106, 17675-17680 (2009).</li><li>Hu, J. J., Humphrey, J. D., Yeh, A. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+engineered+tissue+development+under+biaxial+stretch+using+nonlinear+optical+microscopy.">Characterization of engineered tissue development under biaxial stretch using nonlinear optical microscopy.</a> Tissue Eng. Part A. 15, 1553-1564 (2009).</li><li>Lee, E. J., Holmes, J. W., Costa, K. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Remodeling+of+engineered+tissue+anisotropy+in+response+to+altered+loading+conditions.">Remodeling of engineered tissue anisotropy in response to altered loading conditions.</a> Ann. Biomed. Eng. 36, 1322-1334 (2008).</li><li>Mol, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fibrin+as+a+cell+carrier+in+cardiovascular+tissue+engineering+applications.">Fibrin as a cell carrier in cardiovascular tissue engineering applications.</a> Biomaterials. 26, 3113-3121 (2005).</li><li>de Jonge, N., Kanters, F. M., Baaijens, F. P., Bouten, C. V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Strain-induced+Collagen+Organization+at+the+Micro-level+in+Fibrin-based+Engineered+Tissue+Constructs.">Strain-induced Collagen Organization at the Micro-level in Fibrin-based Engineered Tissue Constructs.</a> Ann. Biomed. Eng. 41 (4), 763-774 (2012).</li><li>Schnell, A. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Optimal+cell+source+for+cardiovascular+tissue+engineering:+venous+vs.+aortic+human+myofibroblasts.">Optimal cell source for cardiovascular tissue engineering: venous vs. aortic human myofibroblasts.</a> Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 49, 221-225 (2001).</li><li>Mol, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Autologous+human+tissue-engineered+heart+valves:+prospects+for+systemic+application.">Autologous human tissue-engineered heart valves: prospects for systemic application.</a> Circulation. , I152-I158 (2006).</li><li>Ahmann, K. A., Weinbaum, J. S., Johnson, S. L., Tranquillo, R. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fibrin+degradation+enhances+vascular+smooth+muscle+cell+proliferation+and+matrix+deposition+in+fibrin-based+tissue+constructs+fabricated+in+vitro.">Fibrin degradation enhances vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and matrix deposition in fibrin-based tissue constructs fabricated in vitro.</a> Tissue Eng. Part A. 16, 3261-3270 (2010).</li><li>John, J., Quinlan, A. T., Silvestri, C., Billiar, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Boundary+stiffness+regulates+fibroblast+behavior+in+collagen+gels.">Boundary stiffness regulates fibroblast behavior in collagen gels.</a> Ann. Biomed. Eng. 38, 658-673 (2010).</li><li>Rubbens, M. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intermittent+straining+accelerates+the+development+of+tissue+properties+in+engineered+heart+valve+tissue.">Intermittent straining accelerates the development of tissue properties in engineered heart valve tissue.</a> Tissue Eng. Part A. 15, 999-1008 (2009).</li><li>Chen, W. L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multiphoton+imaging+and+quantitative+analysis+of+collagen+production+by+chondrogenic+human+mesenchymal+stem+cells+cultured+in+chitosan+scaffold.">Multiphoton imaging and quantitative analysis of collagen production by chondrogenic human mesenchymal stem cells cultured in chitosan scaffold.</a> Tissue Eng. Part C Methods. 16, 913-920 (2010).</li><li>de Jonge, N., Kanters, F. M., Baaijens, F. P., Bouten, C. V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Strain-induced+Collagen+Organization+at+the+Micro-level+in+Fibrin-based+Engineered+Tissue+Constructs.">Strain-induced Collagen Organization at the Micro-level in Fibrin-based Engineered Tissue Constructs.</a> Ann. Biomed. Eng. 41, 763-774 (2013).</li><li>Merryman, W. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Correlation+between+heart+valve+interstitial+cell+stiffness+and+transvalvular+pressure:+implications+for+collagen+synthesis.">Correlation between heart valve interstitial cell stiffness and transvalvular pressure: implications for collagen synthesis.</a> Am. J. Physiol. 290, (2006).</li><li>Ingber, D. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=From+cellular+mechanotransduction+to+biologically+inspired+engineering:+2009+Pritzker+Award+Lecture,+BMES+Annual+Meeting+October+10,+2009.">From cellular mechanotransduction to biologically inspired engineering: 2009 Pritzker Award Lecture, BMES Annual Meeting October 10, 2009.</a> Ann. Biomed. Eng. 38, 1148-1161 (2009).</li><li>Sander, E. A., Barocas, V. H., Tranquillo, R. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Initial+fiber+alignment+pattern+alters+extracellular+matrix+synthesis+in+fibroblast-populated+fibrin+gel+cruciforms+and+correlates+with+predicted+tension.">Initial fiber alignment pattern alters extracellular matrix synthesis in fibroblast-populated fibrin gel cruciforms and correlates with predicted tension.</a> Ann. Biomed. Eng. 39, 714-729 (2010).</li><li>van der Schaft, D. W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Engineering+Skeletal+Muscle+Tissues+from+Murine+Myoblast+Progenitor+Cells+and+Application+of+Electrical+Stimulation.">Engineering Skeletal Muscle Tissues from Murine Myoblast Progenitor Cells and Application of Electrical Stimulation.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (73), e4267 (2013).</li></ol>

The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

The described model system of cell-populated fibrin constructs has great potential for the study of cell and collagen (re)organization (de Jonge et al.15), e.g. to be used for tissue engineering purposes. By using fibrin as the initial cell carrier, after fibrin degradation, a tissue is created with cells and endogenous matrix only. In this way, cells are stimulated to react to strain, either static or cyclic in nature, by applying contractile forces16,17, sensing boundary stiffnes...

Cardiovascular tissues have a prominent load-bearing function. In particular content and organization of collagen fibers in the extracellular matrix contribute to the load-bearing properties and dominate overall tissue strength1. In tissue engineering mechanical conditioning of the construct is used - typically consisting of (cyclic) straining regimens - to enhance tissue organization and mechanical properties2,3. Full understanding of strain-induced collagen organization in complex tissue geometries to create tissues with predefined collagen architecture has not yet been achieved. This is mainly due to our limited knowledge of collagen remodeling in developing tissues. Existing models mainly give information about the final net outcome of collagen remodeling with use of static strain4-6. Here we provide a highly tunable model system that allows the study of collagen (re)organization in a real-time fashion, in 3D, under influence of static or cyclic strain. The tissue constructs are fibrin-based, ensuring that all collagen in the construct is endogenous. Cell and collagen organization in the constructs is visualized, and an internal reference system allows us to relocate cells and collagen structures for time-lapse analysis. In this protocol we will describe the use of the model system for Human Vena Saphena Cells (HVSCs), since these cells are known for their enhanced extra cellular matrix production and ability to remodel the matrix and our established use in engineered cardiovascular tissues7, based on the work of de Jonge et al.8

<table border="1">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Culture plastic</td>
			<td>Greiner</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Includes culture flasks and pipettes</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Advanced DMEM</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>12491</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum</td>
			<td>Greiner</td>
			<td>758075</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin/streptomycin</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>10378016</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GlutaMax</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>35050-079</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Elastomer and curing agent</td>
			<td>Dow Corning Corporation</td>
			<td>3097358-1004</td>
			<td>Silastic MDX 4-4210#</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Velcro</td>
			<td>Regular store</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>You can buy this at a regular store, only use the soft side</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bioflex culture plates</td>
			<td>Flexcell Int</td>
			<td>BF-3001U</td>
			<td>Untreated</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Ascorbic Acid 2-phosphatase</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A8960</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#949;-Amino Caproic Acid</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>D7754</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine thrombin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>T4648</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine fibrinogen</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>F8630</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>0.45 syringe filter</td>
			<td>Whatmann (Schleicher and Scheul)</td>
			<td>10462100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polystyrene microspheres</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>F-8829</td>
			<td>Blue fluorescent, 10 &#956;m diameter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Flexcell FX-4000T</td>
			<td>Flexcell Int</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Includes rectangular loading posts</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell Tracker Orange</td>
			<td>Invitrogen Molecular Probes</td>
			<td>C2927</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CNA35-OG488</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Cordially provided by the Laboratory for Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Confocal laser scanning microscope</td>
			<td>Carl Zeiss</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>LSM 510 Meta laser scanning microscope and Two-Photon-LSM mode</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Amphotericin</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15290-018</td>
			<td>Needed for cell isolation</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

engineering fibrin-based tissue constructs from myofibroblasts and application of constraints and strain to induce cell and collagen reorganization

Collagen content and organization in developing collagenous tissues can be influenced by local tissue strains and tissue constraint. Tissue engineers aim to use these principles to create tissues with predefined collagen architectures. A full understanding of the exact underlying processes of collagen remodeling to control the final tissue architecture, however, is lacking. In particular, little is known about the (re)orientation of collagen fibers in response to changes in tissue mechanical loading conditions. We developed an in&#160;vitro model system, consisting of biaxially-constrained myofibroblast-seeded fibrin constructs, to further elucidate collagen (re)orientation in response to i) reverting biaxial to uniaxial static loading conditions and ii) cyclic uniaxial loading of the biaxially-constrained constructs before and after a change in loading direction, with use of the Flexcell FX4000T loading device. Time-lapse confocal imaging is used to visualize collagen (re)orientation in a nondestructive manner.
Cell and collagen organization in the constructs can be visualized in real-time, and an internal reference system allows us to relocate cells and collagen structures for time-lapse analysis. Various aspects of the model system can be adjusted, like cell source or use of healthy and diseased cells. Additives can be used to further elucidate mechanisms underlying collagen remodeling, by for example adding MMPs or blocking integrins. Shape and size of the construct can be easily adapted to specific needs, resulting in a highly tunable model system to study cell and collagen (re)organization.

This model system allows for culturing myofibroblast-seeded fibrin gels. Figure 1A shows a tissue cultured first under static biaxial constraints. Tissue constraints are released by cutting the fibrin gel from two constraints, to create uniaxial static constraints, and tissue compacts and remodels afterwards (Figure 1A). For cyclic strain, the tissue is cultured under static biaxial constraints as well. After 5 days cyclic uniaxial strain can be applied (Figure 1B). To i...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Engineering Fibrin-based Tissue Constructs from Myofibroblasts and Application of Constraints and Strain to Induce Cell and Collagen Reorganization at JoVE.co

Engineering Fibrin-based Tissue Constructs from Myofibroblasts and Application of Constraints and Strain to Induce Cell and Collagen Reorganization

This model system starts from a myofibroblast-populated fibrin gel that can be used to study endogenous collagen (re)organization real-time in a nondestructive manner. The model system is very tunable, as it can be used with different cell sources, medium additives, and can be adapted easily to specific needs.

Collagen content and organization in developing collagenous tissues can be influenced by local tissue strains and tissue constraint. Tissue engineers aim ...

engineering-fibrin-based-tissue-constructs-from-myofibroblasts

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

10.7K Views.  Eindhoven University of Technology. This model system starts from a myofibroblast-populated fibrin gel that can be used to study endogenous collagen (re)organization real-time in a nondestructive manner. The model system is very tunable, as it can be used with different cell sources, medium additives, and can be adapted easily to specific needs.

Video: Engineering Fibrin-based Tissue Constructs from Myofibroblasts and Application of Constraints and Strain to Induce Cell and Collagen Reorganization