AVS 52nd International Symposium
    Biomaterial Interfaces Wednesday Sessions
       Session BI2-WeA

Invited Paper BI2-WeA5
Receptor-Ligand Interactions to Promote Endothelial Cell Adhesion and Function

Wednesday, November 2, 2005, 3:20 pm, Room 311a

Session: Cell-Surface Interactions
Presenter: G.A. Truskey, Duke University
Authors: G.A. Truskey, Duke University
W.M. Reichert, Duke University
B. Chan, Duke University
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Endothelial cell adhesion and proper function are crucial for the development of tissue-engineered vessels and non-thrombogenic vascular grafts. In vivo shear stresses and mechanical forces can reduce adhesion endothelial cell function. We have systematically examined factors affecting endothelial adhesion and identified. To promote rapid and firm adhesion we developed a dual ligand system using a high affinity ligand to initiate adhesion and facilitate integrin-mediated adhesion. Avidin was used as the high affinity ligand. This ligand-receptor pair enabled endothelium to resist high shear stresses encountered in vivo. An RGD group was grafted onto avidin to permit adhesion to integrins. Interestingly, the RGD-avidin bound the endothelium in solution with high affinity and served to prime adhesion once the cells attached. Functional studies indicated that this dual ligand system promoted a nonthrombogenic phenotype. Preliminary in vivo studies of endothelium attached to ePTFE grafts indicate that the dual ligand system can promote firm adhesion but mechanical trauma to the graft is a significant limitation to complete coverage of endothelium. Current work is optimizing endothelial attachment to commercially available grafts and identifying a tissue-engineering alternative for endothelialization. (supported by NIH grants RO1 HL44972 and R21 HL72189.).