Administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor enhances endothelialization and microvessel formation in small-caliber synthetic vascular grafts.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether systemic administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) would promote endothelialization for small-caliber Dacron vascular grafts.


METHODS
We implanted 4-mm preclotted Dacron grafts in both carotids of 12 dogs. For a fair comparison, all dogs had a comparable platelet aggregation profile with platelet aggregation scores less than 30. Five dogs served as controls, and the others were given 7-day subcutaneous injections of G-CSF (10 microg/kg per day), starting on the seventh postoperative day. The effect of G-CSF was evaluated by white blood cell count, which showed a 3.7-fold (+/- 2.7-fold) increase at the end of treatment. Grafts were harvested at 4 weeks. All G-CSF grafts were patent, and one control occluded. Endothelial-like cell coverage averaged 80.8% on G-CSF grafts, but only 35.6% for control grafts (P <.0004). With the exclusion of the anastomotic pannus healing factor, the difference in endothelial-like cell coverage was even greater (68.5% vs 9.8%; P <.0001). Immunocytochemical staining and electron microscopy studies demonstrated endothelial cells. Light microscopy also showed that there were more microvessels on and in the G-CSF grafts than in the control grafts. This study suggests that G-CSF can enhance early endothelialization of small-caliber vascular grafts. Further studies to determine the proper dosage and timing are needed before clinical application can be recommended.
Bhattacharya
V
V
Hope Heart Institute, Providence Seattle Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
Shi
Q
Q
Ishida
A
A
Sauvage
L R
LR
Hammond
W P
WP
Wu
M H
MH
D000818:Animals; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates
D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor