Functional integration of an autologous engineered esophagus in a large-animal model - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #large-animal model
- #tissue engineering
- #esophageal regeneration
- Tissue engineering of the esophagus has been limited by stent dependence and poor muscle regeneration.
- An integrated strategy was developed to engineer a 2.5-cm esophageal segment using autologous pericyte-like myogenic precursors and fibroblasts in a decellularized porcine scaffold.
- The engineered esophagus was tested in 10-kg minipigs (n = 8) to model pediatric use.
- Bioreactor maturation induced a proangiogenic phenotype, supported by biodegradable intraluminal stents and a vascularizing pleural wrap in vivo.
- The approach yielded safe and effective esophageal conduits; oral feeding supported normal growth, and morbidity resembled clinical esophageal replacement.
- 63% (5/8) of the minipigs survived to the 6-month endpoint.
- Multimodal analyses showed progressive recapitulation of native architecture, with increasing neuromuscular regeneration and vascularization.
- Functional recovery included absence of symptomatic stricture and presence of secondary peristalsis by 6 months.
- The combination of regenerative, conditioning, and surgical strategies enabled a functionally integrated, contractile esophageal graft without immunosuppression.