This video demonstrates the use of in vivo bioluminescence imaging to study immune responses after implantation of Engineered Heart Tissue (EHT) in rats.
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Method Article
Bioluminescence Imaging for Assessment of Immune Responses Following Implantation of Engineered Heart Tissue (EHT)
In This Article
Summary
Abstract
Various techniques of cardiac tissue engineering have been pursued in the past decades including scaffolding strategies using either native or bioartificial scaffold materials, entrapment of cardiac myocytes in hydrogels such as fibrin or collagen and stacking of myocyte monolayers 1. These concepts aim at restoration of compromised cardiac function (e.g. after myocardial infarction) or as experimental models (e.g. predictive toxicology and substance screening or disease modelling). Precise monitoring of cell survival after implantation of engineered heart tissue (EHT) has now become possible using in-vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI) techniques 2. Here we describe the generation of fibrin-based EHT from a transgenic rat strain with ubiquitous expression of firefly luciferase (ROSA/luciferase-LEW Tg; 3). Implantation is performed into the greater omentum of different rat strains to assess immune responses of the recipient organism following EHT implantation. Comparison of results generated by BLI and the Enzyme Linked Immuno Spot Technique (ELISPOT) confirm the usability of BLI for the assessment of immune responses.
Protocol
1. EHT Generation and Culture Conditions
Manufacture of fibrin-based EHT was performed as described elsewhere 4. In brief, to generate fibrin-based EHT for implantation purposes, a master mix was prepared containing cells isolated from neonatal ROSA/luciferase-LEW transgenic rat hearts, bovine fibrinogen and Matrigel. Agarose casting molds were prepared using Teflon spacers placed in 6-well culture dishes. After solidification of agarose, spacers were removed and silicone post racks were placed on culture dishes with posts reaching into the molds. To generate EHT, the mastermix was briefly mixed with a calculated amount of thrombi....
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Discussion
Before clinical implementation of EHT technology for cardiac repair, fundamental questions such as immunogenicity of both cellular and matrix components or graft survival after implantation need to be assessed in experimental models. In-vivo bioluminescence imaging represents a useful new technique for monitoring cell survival after transplantation. We successfully generated fibrin-based EHT containing luciferase positive (luc+) heart cells by adaptation of an established protocol 4. These EHT were im.......
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Disclosures
No conflicts of interest declared.
Acknowledgements
Sonja Schrepfer, Lenard Conradi and Arne Hansen received funding from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG; SCHR992/3-1, SCHR992/4-1, CO 858/1-1, HA 3423/3-1). The work was also supported by grants from the European Union to Thomas Eschenhagen (EUGeneHeart and Angioscaff).
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Materials
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References
- Eschenhagen, T., Zimmermann, W. H. Engineering myocardial tissue. Circ Res. 97, 1220-1231 (2005).
- van der Bogt, K. E., Schrepfer, S., Yu, J. Comparison of transplantation of adipose tissue- and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in the infarcted heart. Tr....
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