Age-dependent impairment of HIF-1alpha expression in diabetic mice: Correction with electroporation-facilitated gene therapy increases wound healing, angiogenesis, and circulating angiogenic cells.
Wound healing is impaired in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus. We hypothesized that age-dependent impairment of cutaneous wound healing in db/db diabetic mice: (a) would correlate with reduced expression of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) as well as its downstream target genes; and (b) could be overcome by HIF-1alpha replacement therapy. Wound closure, angiogenesis, and mRNA expression in excisional skin wounds were analyzed and circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) were quantified in db/db mice that were untreated or received electroporation-facilitated HIF-1alpha gene therapy. HIF-1alpha mRNA levels in wound tissue were significantly reduced in older (4-6 months) as compared to younger (1.5-2 months) db/db mice. Expression of mRNAs encoding the angiogenic cytokines vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin 1 (ANGPT1), ANGPT2, platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF-B), and placental growth factor (PLGF) was also impaired in wounds of older db/db mice. Intradermal injection of plasmid gWIZ-CA5, which encodes a constitutively active form of HIF-1alpha, followed by electroporation, induced increased levels of HIF-1alpha mRNA at the injection site on day 3 and increased levels of VEGF, PLGF, PDGF-B, and ANGPT2 mRNA on day 7. CACs in peripheral blood increased 10-fold in mice treated with gWIZ-CA5. Wound closure was significantly accelerated in db/db mice treated with gWIZ-CA5 as compared to mice treated with empty vector. Thus, HIF-1alpha gene therapy corrects the age-dependent impairment of HIF-1alpha expression, angiogenic cytokine expression, and CACs that contribute to the age-dependent impairment of wound healing in db/db mice.
Liu
Lixin
L
Section of Surgical Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Marti
Guy P
GP
Wei
Xiaofei
X
Zhang
Xianjie
X
Zhang
Huafeng
H
Liu
Ye V
YV
Nastai
Manuel
M
Semenza
Gregg L
GL
Harmon
John W
JW
D000367:Age Factors; D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation; D053672:Electrochemotherapy; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing
D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D001786:Blood Glucose; C497442:HIF1A protein, human; C497443:Hif1a protein, mouse; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; C000608036:PGF protein, human; C000608037:Pgf protein, mouse; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467480:vascular endothelial growth factor A, mouse; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor