FIG. 6.

Incorporation of LV3 ASMCs into engineered vascular constructs increases tropoelastin, elastin-associated proteins, and desmosine content, all of which are decreased in the presence of ascorbate. (A) Expression of tropoelastin mRNA was significantly greater in LV3 constructs than in LX constructs and was substantially decreased for both LV3 and LX constructs in the presence of ascorbate. (n = 4). (B) LV3 constructs had increased desmosine content compared with LX constructs. Removal of ascorbate significantly increased the amount of desmosine in both LX (p < 0.024) and LV3 (p < 0.0003) constructs (n = 6). (C) Elastin-associated proteins fibulin-5 and fibrillin-1 were elevated in LV3 constructs compared with the LX controls. Ascorbate reduced the levels of fibulin-5, fibrillin-1, and LOX for the LV3 constructs, while increasing the levels of fibrillin-1 for the LX constructs. For each mRNA, values were normalized to the LX + ascorbate expression level. (D) In LV3 constructs, expression of mRNAs for tropoelastin and the elastin-associated proteins fibulin-5, fibrillin-1, and LOX was significantly reduced in the presence of ascorbate (p < 0.05). In (D), mRNA levels were normalized to the LV3 + ascorbate expression level.