Experimental research on bletilla carrying exogenous basic fibroblast growth factor that promotes wound healing / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Bletilla bletilla striata gelatin (BSG) is found to remarkably promote the growth of granulation tissue and capillary vessels, as well as the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the wound tissue in rabbits with full-thickness skin defect of the back. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) remarkably promotes the growth of collagen fibers and the growth and dilation of capillary vessels in the wound tissue in rabbits with full-thickness skin defect of the back. However, BSG is easy to decompose under normal temperature, affecting fulfillment of its functions. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of BSG carrying exogenous bFGF on wound healing. METHODS: Forty healthy rabbits were used to make animal models of full-thickness back skin defects, and then randomly divided into four groups, namely, group BSG+bFGF, group bFGF, group BSG and group saline. Rats in each group were subjected to the corresponding treatment once a day until the wound was completely healed. Wound healing time was recorded. Wound healing rate was detected at 3 and 10 days after modeling. Real-time PCR and western blot assay were used to detect the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, α-smooth muscle actin and type I collagen at mRNA and protein levels at 7 days after modeling. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The wound healing time in the BSG+bFGF group was shortened by 4.5, 3.0 and 2.8 days as compared with the normal saline group, BSG group and bFGF group, respectively (P < 0.05). The wound healing rates in the BSG+bFGF group were also higher than those in the other groups at 3 and 10 days after modeling (P< 0.05). Findings from both PCR and western blot assay showed higher expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and α-smooth muscle actin and lower expression of type I collagen in the BSG+bFGF group than the other three groups at 7 days after modeling (P < 0.05). To conclude, BSG carrying exogenous bFGF can promote wound healing, and the underlying mechanism may be to promote vascular endothelial growth factor and inhibit type I collagen.