ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the feasibility of applying NIH3T3 cells transfected by VEGF gene to the treatment of ischemic random skin flaps.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Plasmid PcDNA3.1(-)/VEGF(165) containing VEGF gene was transduced into the mouse NIH3T3 cells by liposome. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of VEGF protein of mouse NIH/3T3 cells in vitro. The NIH3T3 cells were stained with CM-DiI before the transplantation. Thirty mice were randomized into 3 groups: Groups A, B and C, and were respectively injected with NIH/3T3 cells transfected with PcDNA3.1(-)/VEGF(165) plasmid, NIH/3T3 cells and medium only. On the 4th day after the injection, random dorsal skin flaps with an area of 4.0 cm x 1.5 cm were established. The survival, neovascularization and blood flow recovery of the flaps were detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>VEGF-transduced NIH3T3 cells expressed VEGF highly in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that flap survival rate in group A (95.1% +/- 3.1%) was significantly higher than those in group B (37.4% +/- 6.3%) and group C (26.2% +/- 5.6%). The capillary density and the blood perfusion of the flaps in group A were significantly higher than those in other two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>VEGF-transfected NIH3T3 cells can improve ischemic flap neovascularization and extend survival areas.</p>