Objective To explore a new method of treating early avascular necrosis of femoral head (AVNFH). Methods Sixty-nine New Zealand adult rabbitswith a mean weight of 2.8 kg after AVNFH presenting were randomly divided into three groups. In group A, deproteinized bone(DPB) combined with the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1/vascular endothelial growth factor 165(VEGF165) was implanted in the drilled channel of the necrotic femoral head. In group B, only DPB was implanted. In group C, channel was drilled without DPB or plasmid implanted. Femoral head specimens were obtained 3 days, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 weeks after operation. The expression of VEGF165 was examined by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemical techniques. X-ray testedbone formation generally. Angiogenesis and repair of the femoral head were observed by histological and histomorphometric analysis. Results In group A, the expressions of VEGF165 mRNA and protein were detected 3 days postoperatively, reached apex 1 week and lasted more than 3 weeks after implantation. The ratios of IOD of collagen type Ⅰ were 0.29±0.11, 0.55±0.13 and 0.67±0.10 IOD/μm2 respectively at 2, 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively and the ratios of IOD of new capillary vessels were 0.33±0.10and 0.57±0.16 IOD/μm2 respectively at 2, 4 weeks postoperatively in group A, showing statistically significant difference (Plt;0.01) when compared with groups B and D. X-ray test indicated much bone callus formed early. Conclusion Transfection of the VEGF165 gene can enhance local angiogenesis at early stage andDPBVEGF165 compound can improve bone formation. Deproteinized bone combined with VEGF165 gene provides a potential method for therapy of osteonecrosis.
In order to study the effect of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) on the survival of skin flap 30 SD rats were used. A randomized flap measuring 7.5 cm x 3.0 cm was created on the back of each SD rat. The treatment group (n = 10) received VEGF 40 ng/flap by subcutaneous injection with microinjector during and 24 hours after operation. The control groups received heparin 16 U/flap (n = 10) or normal saline 800 microliters/flap (n = 10). After operation, on the 3rd and 11th day, the survival rate of the skin flaps and the dermovascular density of each flap were investigated by histological and histo-morphometrical examination. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the survival rate between the treatment group and the controls on the 3rd day after operation, while on the 11th day, there was a significant difference between them, and the survival rate was much higher in the treatment group. Besides, dermovascular density was much more increased in the treatment group than that in the controls, especially in the distal 1/3 of the flap (P lt; 0.02). The conclusion was that VEGF could .
Abstract To observe the effect of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) on wound healing, 50 mice were divided into 5 groups. On the back of every mouse, 2 wounds were made by operative cuts, one for experiment and the other for control. The wounds of the experimental group were covered with 0.5ml FGF solution (contented FGF 300 μg/ml, heparin 100 μg/ml), whereas the wounds of the control group were covered with 0.5ml 0.9% NaCl solution. All of the wounds were dressed by sterilized gauze, and received the same treatment once a day. After 1,3,5,7,10 days, the mice in every group were sacrificed and the tissues of the wounds were collected and prepared for microscopic examination. The results showed that the capillaries and fibroblasts in the experimental group were markedly increased and reached the peak 2～3 days earlier than those in the control group. It was suggested that FGF promoted the formation of granulation tissue and the wound healing.
Objective To evaluate the effect of composite (bFGF/PDPB) of basic fibroblast growth factor（bFGF） and partially deproteinized bone (PDPB) on the repair of femoral head defect. Methods Forty-eight femoral heads with defect derived from 24 New Zealand rabbits were divided into 3 groups at random, which were implanted with bFGF/PDPB(group A), PDPB(group B) and nothing(group C) respectively.The rabbits were sacrificed at 2,4,and8 weeks after operation, and then the femoral heads were obtained. The specimens injected with Chinese ink were created. Then X-ray examination, histopathological and morphological examination of blood vessel, and image analysis were made. Results The bone defects healed completely 8 weeks after operation in group A. The implants in the repaired tissue were not substituted completely in group B. The bone defects did not heal completely in group C. Two weeks after operation, affluent newly formed vessels were seen in repaired areas in groupA. No significant difference between group A and group B was observed 8 weeks after operation. In group C, newly formed vessels were scarce 2, 4, and 8 weeks after operation. There were 3 sides rated excellent, 2 good and 1 fair in group A; 1 excellent, 2 good, 2 fair and 1 poor in group B; and 1 fair and 5 poor in group C according to the X-ray evaluation 8 weeks after operation. Eight weeks after operation, the volume fraction of bone trabecula in repaired tissue was higher in group A than that in group B (Plt;0.05), and the fraction in group C was thelowest among the 3 groups (Plt;0.05). Conclusion The composite ofbFGF and PDPB can effectively promote the repair of femoral head defect of rabbit.
Objective To review the latest research progress on keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), to thoroughlyunderstand its basic characteristics and appl ication methods and to lay a sol id foundation for the research and development of new KGF medicines and improving the qual ity of skin substitutes. Methods Domestical and international l iteratures on KGFin recent years were extensively reviewed and analyzed. Results KGF was secreted by mesenchymal cells and its receptors were distributed in epithel ium to promote the prol iferation, migration and differentiation of epithel ial cell specifically, which closely related to the organ development, wound heal ing, tumorigenesis and immune reconstruction. Conclusion KGF can be used to improve wound heal ing and the performance of skin substitutes. However, the structure of KGF needs to be changed to el iminate its side effects and purify its promoting effect on epithel ial cell growth.
Objective To construct a mammalian expression vector ofbasic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and to investigate the expression of bFGFin vitro and in vivo. Methods A mammalian expression vector pcDNA3.1/myc-His(-)C-bFGF was constructed with gene cloning technique. The mammalian expression system was prepared and purified. The expression of bFGF cDNAin cultured transfected cells was examined by RT-PCR and cell immunohistochemistry. The recombinant plasmids, pcDNA3.1/myc-His(-)C-bFGF and pCD2-VEGF121, were transferred into rabbit cervical muscle by direct injection of plasmid following electric pulses in vivo. The transferred gene expression and the biological effect were measured by use of histochemistry and immunohistochemistry analysis. Results The eukaryon expression system pcDNA3.1/myc-His(-)C-bFGF could express the target protein bFGF in vitro. The recombinant plasmids, pcDNA3.1/myc-His(-)C-bFGF and pCD2-VEGF121 were transferred into muscles flap in vivo successfully. The active proteins bFGF and VEGF121were expressed at high levels. Blood vessels increased significantly in the muscles, and blood circulation was improved by local angiogenesis. Conclusion Theeukaryon expression vector of bFGF is constructed and can be expressed successfully in vitro and in vivo. That is a primary preparation for the research on tissue transplantation and tissue engineering with bFGF gene therapy.
OBJECTIVE To explore the possible mechanisms of skin regeneration through the epidermal stem cells stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF). METHODS At 8 and 14 days after treatment with EGF, the tissue specimens from 8 skin ulcered patients who were treated with EGF were used to evaluate the distribution and differentiation of epidermal stem cells. The expression of beta 1 integrin, keratin 19 (K19), keratin 14(K14) and keratin 10 (K10) in skin was detected with SP immunohistochemical methods. Hematoxylin and eosin staining method were used to observe the tissue structure. Another 7 biopsies from ulcered patients without EGF management were used as the control. RESULTS The results from the hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that the epidermis in EGF treated wounds was thick and the epidermal ridges were enlarged both in 8 and 14 days compared with those in control skin. Immunohistochemical staining from beta 1 integrin and K 19 showed that all tissues treated with EGF were rich in epidermal stem cells both in 8 and 14 days. These stem cells were bigger in size and larger in number and localized at the base of the epidermis. In contrast, the positive expression cells of beta 1 integrin and K 19 in control group in the same time were scanty. It was found that there were some stem cell islands in epidermis treated with EGF in day 14 and absent from the control group. The expression of K14 and K10 could be observed in those terminally differentiating epidermal cells in both groups. CONCLUSION The results indicate that the possible mechanisms of skin regeneration stimulated by EGF comes from the mitogenic effects and differentiation of skin stem cells.
ObjectiveTo investigate relationship between ultrastructural changes and expression of basic fibroblast growth factor of diabetic retinopathy in rats.MethodsDiabetes was induced in rats with a single injection of streptozotocin (STZ) and divided into normal control group and 1- , 3- and 5- month diabetes group. The paraffin slide was observed by in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, and retinal ultrastructure was examined by transmission electron microscopy.ResultsNo change of retinal ultrastructure was found in the control group. Different degrees of ultrastructure lesion were found in 1-month diabetic rats with fragmental increase of thickness of basement membrane, swelling of endothelial cells and obvions fingerlike processes in the capillary cavity, disconcentration of heterochromatin both in endothelium and pericyte, and swelling and degeneration of mitochondrion. The edema of endothelial cells of 3-month diabetic rats was more serious than that of 1month ones, and the capillary cavity was nearly occluded. In 5-month diabetic rats, the basement membrane was unevenly thickened, or obviously split. The positive rate of in-situ hybridization in 3-month diabetic rats was 77.8% while the positive rate of immunohistochemical stain was 55.6%, which increased to 88.9% in 5-month diabetic rats.ConclusionsThe occurrence of the ultrastructural changes in STZ rats with diabetic retinopathy is earlier than that of the expression of bFGF.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2003,19:348-351)