Background: The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a central role in the mechanical strength and functional integration of tissue-engineered matrix (TEM), particularly in cardiovascular and load-bearing applications. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from different sources may vary in their ECM-forming potential. Methods: In this study, adipose-derived (hADMSC), bone marrow-derived (hBMSC), and umbilical cord-derived MSCs (hUCMSC) were compared with human dermal fibroblasts (HDFBs) as a reference. Cells were seeded onto polyglycolic acid (PGA)/poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB) scaffolds and cultured for 3 weeks under static or hydrodynamic conditions using orbital shaking. TEM development was assessed macroscopically, histologically (using H however, these matrices remained comparatively thin and densely packed. In contrast, MSC-derived TEMs formed thicker and more spatially distributed ECM in response to hydrodynamic stimulation. Conclusion: Among the MSC sources, hUCDMSC-derived TEMs exhibited the most advanced collagen maturation and the most uniform collagen distribution under hydrodynamically stimulated culture, whereas hADMSC-derived TEMs showed the greatest matrix thickening and volumetric ECM expansion with intermediate collagen maturation. hBMSC-derived TEMs displayed clear responsiveness to hydrodynamic stimulation but remained limited in overall collagen deposition and fiber maturation. These findings underscore that both hydrodynamic stimulation and cell source are critical not only for maximizing ECM deposition, but also for ensuring physiologically relevant collagen maturation and matrix organization in grafts suitable for clinical translation.
Klein et al. (Sat,) studied this question.