Effects of liposome‐mediated gene transfer of VEGF in ischemic rat gracilis muscle

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to determine the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on muscle flap survival and vascularity in a rat gracilis ischemia-reperfusion model. A total of 12 adult male Wistar rats were divided into two groups (n = 6). The experimental group received the plasmid encoding VEGF(165) cDNA plus lipofectamine (cationic liposome) injected directly to the gracilis muscle following 4 h of ischemia. The control group received lipofectamine only. The viability and vascularity of the flaps were evaluated after 7 days of reperfusion. The data demonstrated that the VEGF plasmid- and lipofectamine-treated muscle flaps had significantly greater total survival and capillary count 7 days after reperfusion compared with the flaps treated only with lipofectamine. These results indicate that VEGF exerts a protective effect on ischemic skeletal muscle flaps.

Effects of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor on Survival of Surgical Flaps: A Review of Experimental Studies

“…120 Over the years, various ways of delivering gene therapy have evolved. Among the many ways of VEGF gene therapy, liposomes [64][65][66][67][68][69] and adenoviral vectors 53,71,72,74,121 get the most ensured results. Gene therapy in general, in at least two studies, has been equivalent in outcomes to traditional VEGF protein results.…”

Adult stem cell lines in regenerative medicine and reconstructive surgery

“…Advances in vascular biology suggest that agents like growth factors, which can stimulate blood vessel formation (neoangiogenesis or arteriogenesis), will improve the healing process. Such agents include transforming growth factor-␤ (TGF␤) [58,59], basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) [60,61], platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) [62], and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) [62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71]. Advanced age, diabetes or hypercholesterolemia have been proven to reduce the level of endogenous VEGF levels, coinciding with a prolonged or insufficient healing process.…”

The Effects of Transpositional Muscle Flaps Transfected with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Gene in the Treatment of Experimental Osteomyelitis

“…Studies have shown that adenovirus vector inserted with VEGF or liposome-mediated VEGF gene are effectively transferred and expressed via direct intramuscular injection or arterial access. [29,30] However, in addition to gene delivery techniques, the simplest method of gene delivery is the direct injection of naked plasmid DNA into tissues. Advantages of this method are local delivery to the target organ and the ability to act on non-dividing cells.…”