Partial heart transplant valves demonstrate growth in piglets despite prolonged cold storage.
| Title: | Partial heart transplant valves demonstrate growth in piglets despite prolonged cold storage. |
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| Authors: | Aykut B; Duke Congenital Heart Surgery Research and Training Laboratory, Durham, NC; Department of Surgery, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC.; Ghandour H; Duke Congenital Heart Surgery Research and Training Laboratory, Durham, NC; Department of Surgery, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC.; Mensah-Mamfo M; Duke Congenital Heart Surgery Research and Training Laboratory, Durham, NC; Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC.; Ngeve SM; Duke Congenital Heart Surgery Research and Training Laboratory, Durham, NC.; Baldwin T; Duke Congenital Heart Surgery Research and Training Laboratory, Durham, NC.; Medina CK; Duke Congenital Heart Surgery Research and Training Laboratory, Durham, NC; Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC.; Kucera JA; Duke Congenital Heart Surgery Research and Training Laboratory, Durham, NC.; Wolf SE; Duke Congenital Heart Surgery Research and Training Laboratory, Durham, NC.; Omer TM; Duke Congenital Heart Surgery Research and Training Laboratory, Durham, NC; Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC.; Cook JK; Duke Congenital Heart Surgery Research and Training Laboratory, Durham, NC; Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC.; Jeffs SE; Duke Congenital Heart Surgery Research and Training Laboratory, Durham, NC; Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC.; Parker LE; Duke Congenital Heart Surgery Research and Training Laboratory, Durham, NC; Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC.; Evans A; Department of Surgery, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC.; Miller SG; Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC; Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC.; Turek JW; Duke Congenital Heart Surgery Research and Training Laboratory, Durham, NC; Department of Surgery, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC; Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC.; Overbey DM; Duke Congenital Heart Surgery Research and Training Laboratory, Durham, NC; Department of Surgery, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC; Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC. Electronic address: douglas.overbey@duke.edu. |
| Source: | The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery [J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg] 2025 Oct; Vol. 170 (4), pp. 1119-1124.e1. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Mar 26. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Mosby Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0376343 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1097-685X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00225223 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: St. Louis, MO : Mosby; Original Publication: St. Louis. |
| MeSH Terms: | Heart Transplantation*/methods ; Pulmonary Valve*/growth & development ; Pulmonary Valve*/transplantation ; Pulmonary Valve*/surgery ; Aortic Valve*/growth & development ; Aortic Valve*/transplantation ; Organ Preservation*/methods ; Cryopreservation*; Animals ; Humans ; Time Factors ; Swine ; Cell Survival |
| Abstract: | Background: Traditional heart valve replacement options lack growth potential, limiting their long-term effectiveness in pediatric patients. Partial heart transplantation is an emerging approach that offers growth-capable valves by transplanting only the valve-containing segment of the heart. We report on the effects of extended cold storage on the viability and growth potential of partial heart transplantation grafts.; Methods: Pulmonary and aortic conduits were harvested from piglets and human donors and stored at 4°C in cold-storage solution, with some samples supplemented with apoptosis inhibitors, membrane stabilizers, and antibiotics to optimize cellular viability. Viability was assessed in vitro over 7 days using the MTS assay. A piglet model of pulmonary valve replacement was used to assess in vivo growth potential after 1 week of cold storage.; Results: In vitro analysis showed a gradual decline in metabolic activity over 7 days, with approximately 50% viability retained in both porcine and human valves. Supplementation with apoptosis inhibitors and membrane stabilizers did not significantly enhance viability. In vivo, transplanted conduits demonstrated robust leaflet and annular growth without significant stenosis or regurgitation, confirming the maintenance of growth potential despite reduced viability.; Conclusions: Partial heart transplantation grafts can be preserved in cold storage for up to 1 week without significantly compromising in vivo growth potential. These findings support the feasibility of partial heart transplantation as a viable growth-capable valve replacement option for children and suggest that optimized cold storage protocols could facilitate broader access to this technique.; (Copyright © 2025 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) |
| Competing Interests: | Conflict of Interest Statement The authors reported no conflicts of interest. The Journal policy requires editors and reviewers to disclose conflicts of interest and to decline handling or reviewing manuscripts for which they may have a conflict of interest. The editors and reviewers of this article have no conflicts of interest. |
| Grant Information: | T32 GM145449 United States GM NIGMS NIH HHS |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: cold storage; congenital heart disease; partial heart transplantation |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20250328 Date Completed: 20251002 Latest Revision: 20260327 |
| Update Code: | 20260328 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2025.03.018 |
| PMID: | 40154775 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article