[Effects of mouse NIH3T3 cells transfected with VEGF gene on neovascularization of ischemic flaps].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the feasibility of applying NIH3T3 cells transfected by VEGF gene to the treatment of ischemic random skin flaps.


METHODS
Plasmid PcDNA3.1(-)/VEGF(165) containing VEGF gene was transduced into the mouse NIH3T3 cells by liposome. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of VEGF protein of mouse NIH/3T3 cells in vitro. The NIH3T3 cells were stained with CM-DiI before the transplantation. Thirty mice were randomized into 3 groups: Groups A, B and C, and were respectively injected with NIH/3T3 cells transfected with PcDNA3.1(-)/VEGF(165) plasmid, NIH/3T3 cells and medium only. On the 4th day after the injection, random dorsal skin flaps with an area of 4.0 cm x 1.5 cm were established. The survival, neovascularization and blood flow recovery of the flaps were detected.


RESULTS
VEGF-transduced NIH3T3 cells expressed VEGF highly in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that flap survival rate in group A (95.1% +/- 3.1%) was significantly higher than those in group B (37.4% +/- 6.3%) and group C (26.2% +/- 5.6%). The capillary density and the blood perfusion of the flaps in group A were significantly higher than those in other two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF-transfected NIH3T3 cells can improve ischemic flap neovascularization and extend survival areas.
Zheng
Yan
Y
Department of Plastic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Yi
Cheng-gang
CG
He
Li-jie
LJ
Wang
Ying-mei
YM
Feng
Shao-qing
SQ
Liu
Dan
D
Guo
Shu-zhong
SZ
D000818:Animals; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006085:Graft Survival; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D014162:Transfection; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A