COMP-angiopoietin 1 Gene Transfer Enhances Cutaneous Wound Healing by Promoting Angiogenesis

ABSTRACT

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). CONCLUSION: 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.