COMP-angiopoietin 1 Gene Transfer Enhances Cutaneous Wound Healing by Promoting Angiogenesis.
BACKGROUND
Angiogenesis is crucial for wound healing and exogenous supplements of the angiogenic growth factors have been known to promote cutaneous wound healing. Angiopoietin (Ang) 1 is a recently discovered angiogenic factor and there have been few studies of its effect on cutaneous wound healing.


OBJECTIVE
We examined the effect of Ang 1 on cutaneous wound healing.


METHODS
Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP)-Ang 1 (Ade-COMP-Ang 1)- was intravenously injected to rats two days before surgery creating full-thickness wounds. The clinical wound healing rate and the number of vessels in the skin samples were evaluated on days 3, 7 and 14 post operation.


RESULTS
At post-operation day 3, 7 and 14, the clinical wound healing rate was 38.3%, 59.4% and 92.1%, respectively, in the Ade-COMP-Ang 1-treated group, compared with 20.5%, 47.5% and 87.3%, respectively, in the Ade-LacZ-treated group. There were significant differences in the results of day 3 and day 7 between two groups (p<0.05). Histopathologically, the number of the vessels of the Ade-COMP-Ang 1-treated group was 73.7, 94.1 and 62.7 at day 3, 7 and 14, compared with that of the Ade-LacZ-treated group, 53.5, 83.9, and 56.9. The differences in the results of the two groups were statistically significant (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that Ade-COMP-Ang 1 therapy significantly accelerats wound healing by promoting angiogenesis. However, further study using Ade-COMP-Ang 1 gene therapy for chronic wounds in which the formation of new blood vessels is impaired is needed in the near future.
Department of Dermatology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Yoon Young
YY
Kim
Gowoonsesang Dermatology Clinic, Seoul, Korea.
You Jeong
YJ
Kim
Department of Dermatology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Ja Kyung
JK
Ku
Department of Dermatology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Mi Yeon
MY
Kim
Department of Neurology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Yeong In
YI
Kim
Department of Biological Sciences, Biomedical Center, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea.
Gou Young
GY
Koh
Department of Dermatology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Hyung Ok
HO
Kim
Department of Dermatology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Young Min
0000-0002-3631-0807
YM
Park
Angiogensis; COMP-angiopoietin 1; Cutaneous wound healing