2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (12): 1832-1836

Feasibility of tea polyphenol-treated bovine pericardial decellularized tissue scaffolds as artificial esophageal repair materials

Li Qin, Sun Yangyong, Wu Hao, Liu Xiaohong, Xu Zhiyun   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Decellularized tissue scaffolds have been used in vascular, cardiovascular, skin, pulmonary, and urology fields, and have gradually become good candidates for esophageal tissue engineering.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of tea polyphenol-treated bovine pericardial decellularized tissue scaffolds as artificial esophagus materials.
METHODS: The bovine pericardium was decellularized and made into tissue scaffolds, which were treated with PBS, glutaraldehyde or tea polyphenol. Totally 16 SD rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n=4). In group A, PBS-treated decellularized bovine pericardial tissue scaffolds were sutured to esophageal defects. In group B, glutaraldehyde-treated decellularized bovine pericardial tissue scaffolds were sutured to esophageal defects. In group C, tea polyphenol-treated decellularized bovine pericardial tissue scaffolds were sutured to esophageal defects. In group D, the abdomen was sutured after exposing the esophagus. At 4 weeks after the operation, the changes in body weight, anastomotic stoma, hematoxylin-eosin staining and actin α antibody immunohistochemical staining at the repaired site were observed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The general observation showed that in group A, the esophageal defect site had granulation hyperplasia; the stenosis was not obvious; and part of the esophageal patch material fell off. In group B, one patient had anastomotic leakage after operation. The granulation tissue in the esophageal defect site proliferated obviously and the large patch tissue protruded into the esophageal cavity. In group C, granulation tissue hyperplasia was found at the esophageal defect site; the defect site was supported by the artificial esophagus without obvious stenosis. (2) There was no significant difference in body weight between groups A, B and C and group D at 4 weeks after operation (P > 0.05). (3) Hematoxylin-eosin staining demonstrated that in group A, granulation hyperplasia was seen at the esophageal defect site; a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated; and the newly formed esophageal mucosa was partially covered with the patch tissue. In group B, the granulation tissue at the esophageal defect site had obvious proliferation, accompanied by infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells. Inflammatory cell infiltration could be seen around the patch, and the esophageal mucosa was not covered with the patch tissue. In group C, granulation tissue proliferated at the esophageal defect site, and the infiltration of inflammatory cells was mild. Numerous new cells were seen in the artificial esophageal patch. The tissue structure of the original patch was unclear, and the esophageal mucosa completely covered the defect tissue. (4) Immunohistochemical staining exhibited that no actin α-positive cells were found in groups A and B, while blue-stained nuclei were seen, the original patch structure was loose, and actin α-specifically stained neovascular tissue was visible in group C. (5) It is concluded that the tea polyphenol-treated bovine pericardium decellularized tissue scaffold can be served as a good substitute for artificial esophagus.
Key words: artificial esophagus, esophagus rupture, tea polyphenol, bovine pericardium, decellularized tissue scaffold, cross-linking