[Ectopic expression of keratin 19 and integrin beta1 during wound healing process after microskin grafting in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the characteristics of keratin 19 and integrin beta1 expressions in the wound after microskin grafting , and to investigate the healing mechanism.


METHODS
Full layer skin defects were created in twenty Sprague-Dawley rats and they were divided into two groups, i.e., A group (with grafting of autologous microskin accounting 10% in weight of epidermis loss from skin defect), B group (with grafting of autologous microskin and allogeneic microskin, accounting 10% and 40% weight of epidermis loss respectively in skin defect). The wound healing rate and contraction rate were observed at 2,3,4 post-grafting week (PGW), and the expression and distribution of keratin 19 and integrin beta1 were observed at 2 and 4 PGW.


RESULTS
The wound healing rate in the B group on 2 and 3 PGW was obviously higher than that in A group [(85 +/- 5)% vs. (53 +/- 10)%, (84 +/- 8)% vs. (65 +/- 9)%, P < 0.01]. No obvious difference in wound contraction rate between the two groups was observed on the 2, 3 and 4 PGW (P > 0.05). Cells with expression of keratin 19 and integrin beta1 were observed in the suprabasal layers of the epidermis in healing wound, but not in the basal membrane. Integrin beta1 positive expression cells were not observed in the suprabasal layers until 4 PGW.


CONCLUSIONS
Mixed grafting with autogenous and allogenous microskin can improve wound healing. Ectopic expression of keratin 19 and integrin beta1 exists during wound healing process after microskin grafting.
Yang
Yan-ni
YN
Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China.
Peng
Dai-zhi
DZ
Wu
Su-hua
SH
Zhou
Xin
X
Liu
Jing
J
Dong
Zheng-xue
ZX
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053539:Keratin-19 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014945:Wound Healing
D019012:Integrin beta1; D053539:Keratin-19