Effect of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) gene transfer in rat model of secondary lymphedema.
Secondary lymphedema has been clinically well described, but a cure is still lacking. Although there have been previous investigations using plasmid DNA for gene therapy, few have focused on the use for the treatment of lymphedema. Therefore, we investigated the effects of VEGF-C gene transfer for the treatment of lymphedema using our plasmid pcDNA3.1-VEGF-C. We produced a surgical model of secondary lymphedema in the rat hindlimb and treated with local intradermal VEGF-C transfection to investigate the efficacy of gene transfer. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (P<0.05), B ultrasound (P<0.05), and water displacement volumetry (P<0.05) demonstrated a reduction of lymphedema in therapy group as compared to controls. Histological and immunofluorescent studies demonstrated numerous newly formed lymphatic vessels in therapy group. Our results indicate that VEGF-C gene therapy has produced new lymphatic vessels which may have improved functional lymphatic drainage to reduce lymphedema volume in our model.
Liu
Yanli
Y
Department of Anatomy, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, 250012, China.
Fang
Yunhai
Y
Dong
Ping
P
Gao
Jie
J
Liu
Rong
R
Hhahbaz M
Bi
Yushun
Y
Ding
Zhaoxi
Z
Tian
Hua
H
Liu
Zhiyu
Z
D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000235:genetics*
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D004247:DNA