The endothelium, the thin layer of cells that lines blood vessels and controls vascular function, holds the key to vascular health. Injuries or disruptions to the endothelial lining lead to thrombosis and hyperplasia, the leading causes in the failure of grafts and stents used to treat cardiovascular disease. Lack of endothelial lining is particularly problematic for small diameter vessels that cannot tolerate vessel lumen encroachment.
These problems occur in coronary bypass grafts taken from the patient's saphenous veins or other autologous vessels, where the natural...