Use of Mesothelial Cells and Biological Matrices for Tissue Engineering of Simple Epithelium Surrogates

Abstract

Tissue-engineering technologies have progressed rapidly through last decades resulting in the manufacture of quite complex bioartificial tissues with potential use for human organ and tissue regeneration. The manufacture of avascular monolayered tissues such as simple squamous epithelia was initiated a few decades ago and is attracting increasing interest. Their relative morphostructural simplicity makes of their biomimetization a goal, which is currently accessible. The mesothelium is a simple squamous epithelium in nature and is the monolayered tissue lining the walls of large celomic cavities (peritoneal, pericardial, and pleural) and internal organs housed inside. Interestingly, mesothelial cells can be harvested in clinically relevant numbers from several anatomical sources and not less important, they also display high transdifferentiation capacities and are low immunogenic characteristics, which endow these cells with therapeutic interest. Their combination with a suitable scaffold (biocompatible, degradable, and non-immunogenic) may allow the manufacture of tailored serosal membranes biomimetics with potential spanning a wide range of therapeutic applications, principally for the regeneration of simple squamous-like epithelia such as the visceral and parietal mesothelium vascular endothelium and corneal endothelium among others. Herein, we review recent research progresses in mesothelial cells biology and their clinical sources. We make a particular emphasis on reviewing the different types of biological scaffolds suitable for the manufacture of serosal mesothelial membranes biomimetics. Finally, we also review progresses made in mesothelial cells-based therapeutic applications and propose some possible future directions.

Crohn’s Disease Increases the Mesothelial Properties of Adipocyte Progenitors in the Creeping Fat

“…It is believed that the precursor populations involved in the initial development of adipose tissue (“organogenesis”) are distinct from precursor populations in adult animals tasked with the maintenance and expansion of adipose depots [ 45 ], and mesothelial cells are no exception. In addition to those studies tracing rodent VAT from embryogenic mesothelial precursors [ 21 , 46 ], adult mesothelial cells isolated from human and adult rodents are known to differentiate along the vascular smooth muscle cell lineage and undergo chondrogenic, osteogenic, and, importantly, adipogenic differentiation [ 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. This suggests that adult mesothelial cells retain embryonic multipotency and could represent a population of primitive mesodermal stem cells [ 50 , 52 ].…”

“…In addition to those studies tracing rodent VAT from embryogenic mesothelial precursors [21,46], adult mesothelial cells isolated from human and adult rodents are known to differentiate along the vascular smooth muscle cell lineage and undergo chondrogenic, osteogenic, and, importantly, adipogenic differentiation [47][48][49][50][51]. This suggests that adult mesothelial cells retain embryonic multipotency and could represent a population of primitive mesodermal stem cells [50,52].…”

Evaluation of a Miniaturized Biologically Vascularized Scaffold in vitro and in vivo

“…A potential strategy to prevent initial acute encapsulation but allowing long-term integration could be a biodegradable membrane allowing retarded degradation and subsequent gradual tissue integration and vascularization. Furthermore, the outer surface of the construct could be seeded with squamous epithelial cells providing a natural surrogate of internal organs 29 . With our setting, however we experienced increasing apoptosis of the embedded organoid structures (Fig.…”

Decellularized Scaffolds for Skin Repair and Regeneration

“…The mesothelium is a simple squamous epithelium lining the walls of large cavities (peritoneum, pericardium, and pleura) (Figure 1B) [55]. The mesothelial tissues have a thin and strong layer of ECM that supports epithelial cells, which are capable of rapid wound healing (Figure 2B) [56].…”