Improvement of the Inferior Epigastric Artery Flap Viability Using Adenovirus-mediated VEGF and COMP-angiopoietin-1.
- Author:
Eun Kyung YOO
1
;
Daegu SON
;
Hyung Tae KIM
;
In Kyu LEE
;
Taehyun CHOI
;
Junhyung KIM
;
Kihwan HAN
Author Information
1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. handson@dsmc.or.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
VEGF;
Angiopoietin;
Gene therapy;
Flap
- MeSH:
Adenoviridae;
Angiopoietin-1;
Animals;
Blood Vessels;
Epigastric Arteries;
Genetic Therapy;
Humans;
Immunohistochemistry;
Ischemia;
Necrosis;
Rats;
Skin;
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
2009;36(1):1-10
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Partial necrosis of skin flaps remains a substantial problem in reconstructive surgery. We investigated the potential use of an adenovirus vector encoding the VEGF, COMP-angiopoietin-1 gene in an attempt to promote the viability of the inferior epigastric artery flap in a rat model. METHODS: Three by six cm lower abdominal transverse skin flaps, supplied only by the left inferior epigastric artery, were designed. After skin flap elevation, the adenovirus VEGF and adenovirus COMP-angiopoietin-1 were injected into the distal portion of the flap, which has a high tendency of developing flap ischemia. Control animals were injected with the same volume of normal saline. On 3, 7 and 14 days after the flap elevation, the flap survival and vascularization were assessed using Visitrak digital(R), CD31 immunohistochemistry in addition to evaluating the general histological characteristics. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the mean percentage of flap viability by 89.8%, 91.1% and 94.8% in flaps transfected with adenovirus VEGF, COMP- angiopoietin-1, coadministraion of VEGF and COMP- angiopoietin-1 at seven days, and by 95.6%, 94.8% and 96.3% at 14 days. Histological assessment revealed that there were more blood vessels formed after adenovirus with VEGF, COMP-angiopoietin-1 or VEGF plus COMP- angiopoietin-1 than with adenovirus Lac Z. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that adenovirus-mediated VEGF, COMP-angiopoietin-1 gene therapy, promote therapeutic angiogenesis in patients that undergo reconstructive procedures. Key Words:
