ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To explore the effectiveness of adenovirus-enhanced green fluorescent protein-vascular endothelial growth factor165 (AD-EGFP-VEGF165) transfection on fibroblasts from mice, and we assessed whether VEGF165 restores the angiogenesis of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) in mice. METHODS: AD-EGFP-VEGF165 and AD-EGFP were transfected into fibroblasts from mouse buccal tissues in vitro. The expression of VEGF before and after transfection was detected by RT-qPCR and ELISA in each group of fibroblasts. Fifteen OSF mice (pre-experimental construction) were randomly divided into 3 groups, and equal amounts of AD-EGFP-VEGF165 virus, AD-EGFP virus, and saline were injected into the buccal submucosal tissue of OSF mice. The expression of VEGF and local tissue angiogenesis were observed and measured in each group of animals. RESULTS: The Ad-EGFP-VEGF165-transfected fibroblasts increased human and mouse VEGF expression compared to the Ad-EGFP group and control group (P<0.05). The buccal submucosal tissue of mice was injected with Ad-EGFP-VEGF165 after the 6th day, and the expression of VEGF was effectively expressed in AD-EGFP-VEGF165 group (P<0.05), while no positive expression observed in other groups. and the number of microvessels in the AD-EGFP-VEGF165 group increased significantly compared to the other groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ad-EGFP-VEGF165 can be successfully transfected into fibroblasts from mice, and restored the angiogenesis of OSF in mice.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To develop a BALB/c mouse model of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) induced by arecoline and to exhibit an accumulation of collagen and angiogenesis changes. METHODS: BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to either the control (distilled water) or experimental group (arecoline) (n = 40). Eight mice from each group were sacrificed every 4 weeks since 8 weeks post treatment. Changes in histopathologic features, levels of collagen type I and collagen type III, and angiogenesis were measured. RESULTS: In the 8th week, epithelium atrophy, collagen cumulation and micrangium pathologic changes in the lamina propria were observed in the oral mucosa. In the 20th week, hyaline degeneration of the connective tissues was observed on the tongue and palate mucosa. The angiogenesis and collagen type I changed significantly as the diseases advanced (P < 0.05); however, collagen type III was not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: An OSF model involving mice can be rapidly induced by drinking a high-dose of arecoline. OSF angiogenic changes in mice primarily decrease and collagen accumulation is mainly collagen type I.
