α2(VIII) collagen substrata enhance endothelial cell retention under acute shear stress flow via an α2β1 integrin dependent mechanism: an in vitro and in vivo study

Essential to tissue-engineered vascular grafts is the formation of a functional endothelial monolayer capable of resisting the forces of blood flow. This study targeted {alpha}2(VIII) collagen, a major component of the subendothelial matrix, and examined the ability of and mechanisms by which endothelial cells attach to this collagen under static and dynamic conditions both in vitro and in vivo. These studies demonstrate that {alpha}2(VIII) collagen has the potential to improve both initial cell attachment and retention of endothelial cells on vascular grafts in vivo, which opens new avenues of research into the development of single-stage endothelialized prostheses and the next generation of tissue-engineered vascular grafts.