[Reconstruction and transplantation of the composite skin comprising epithelial growth factor gene-transfected keratinocytes].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the epithelial growth factor (EGF) expression of EGF gene-transfected keratinocytes and its effect on cell proliferation after grafting.


METHODS
Newborn Balb/c mouse keratinocytes and gene transfected keratinocytes were seeded on the surface of acellular dermal matrix and cocultured in different ratios as follows: 1:1, 1:3, or 1:5 1 week after culture. The composite skin was grafted onto the full-thickness wound in Balb/c mouse. Specimen was harvested at interval after grafting and underwent the immunohistochemistry staining for EGF and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).


RESULTS
Immunohistochemical staining showed EGF was expressed in the newly generated epidermis 1-2 week after grafting of the composite skin comprising Balb/c mouse keratinocytes and gene-transfected keratinocytes (at the ratio of 1:5). One week after surgery, Anti-PCNA positive basal cells were more than that in composite skin containing Balb/c mouse keratinocytes alone (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The gene-transfected keratinocytes expresses EGF and promotes the proliferation of keratinocytes in the early stage after transplantation.
Xiao
Shi-chu
SC
Department of Burn, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Zhu
Shi-hui
SH
Xia
Zhao-fan
ZF
Wang
Guang-qing
GQ
Wang
Yong-sheng
YS
Liu
Zhi-guo
ZG
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014162:Transfection
D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor