Allegheny Health Network 2 articles published in JoVE Medicine Harvest of Endothelial Cells from the Balloon Tips of Swan-Ganz Catheters after Right Heart Catheterization Michael J. Passineau1, Phillip H. Gallo1, Gretchen Williams1, Reina Perez1, Raymond L. Benza1 1Cardiovascular Institute, Allegheny Health Network This protocol describes the removal and purification of pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) that adhere to the balloon tips of Swan-Ganz catheters while they are wedged in the pulmonary artery during right heart catheterization and remain adherent to the deflated balloon following removal from the patient's body. Immunology and Infection Promoting 3-D Aggregation of FACS Purified Thymic Epithelial Cells with EAK 16-II/EAKIIH6 Self-assembling Hydrogel Asako Tajima1, Wen Liu2, Isha Pradhan1, Suzanne Bertera1, Robert A. Lakomy1, William A. Rudert1, Massimo Trucco1,3, Wilson S. Meng2, Yong Fan1,3 1Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Allegheny Health Network, 2Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mylan School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, 3Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University This video demonstrates a protocol to enrich thymic epithelial cells (TECs) with density gradient for FACS isolation. It also shows the use of EAK16-II/EAKIIH6 peptides to promote the TEC aggregate formation. The microenvironments of EAK16-II/EAKIIH6 hydrogel provide the 3-D configuration necessary to maintain the survival and function of the TECs.
