Adeno-associated viral vector-mediated human vascular endothelial growth factor gene transfer stimulates angiogenesis and wound healing in the genetically diabetic mouse.
OBJECTIVE
We studied the gene therapy efficacy of diabetes-associated wound healing disorder with an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector expressing the 165-amino acid isoform of human vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) by using an incisional skin-wound model produced on the back of female diabetic C57BL/KsJ db+/db+ mice and their normal littermates ( db+/+m).


METHODS
Animals were randomized to receive intradermally into the wound edges either rAAV-LacZ (a control gene), or rAAV-VEGF165. Animals were killed on different days (7 and 14 days after skin injury) and wounded skin tissues were used for gene marker studies, histological evaluation and immunohistochemistry, and wound breaking strength analysis. Furthermore we studied the VEGF mature protein in the wounds.


RESULTS
We found that AAV vectors are highly efficient for gene transfer to the mouse skin, displaying an exquisite tropism for the panniculus carnosus by using the beta-galactosidase activity assay. We confirmed the increased expression of the angiogenic factor at day 7 by measuring the wound content of the mature protein. Delivery of VEGF165 to incisional skin wounds of diabetic mice resulted in a remarkable induction of new vessel formation with consequent improvement in the wound healing process. The rAAV-VEGF165 gene improved wound healing in diabetic mice through the stimulation of angiogenesis, reepithelization, synthesis and maturation of extracellular matrix. Moreover the recombinant AAV encoding the human VEGF165 increased the breaking strength of the wound and enhanced the wound content of VEGF.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that VEGF gene transfer might represent a new approach to treat wound healing disorders associated with diabetes.
Galeano
M
M
Department of Surgical Sciences, Section of Plastic Surgery, University of Messina, Italy.
Deodato
B
B
Altavilla
D
D
Cucinotta
D
D
Arsic
N
N
Marini
H
H
Torre
V
V
Giacca
M
M
Squadrito
F
F
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena / Q000235:genetics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A