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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Preclinical Model of Hind Limb Ischemia in Diabetic Rabbits
Published on: June 2, 2019
[Research advance of gene therapy for peripheral arterial disease using hepatocyte growth factor]
Qinglin Zhang1, Yuanmin Li, Zuze Wu
1Institute of Radiation Medicine, the Academy of Military Medical Science, Beijing, 100850, P. R. China. qinglz@yahoo.com
Objective:
To introduce the studies on gene therapy for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) using plasmid DNA encoding human hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) gene.
Methods:
Recent articles including preclinical and clinical studies were reviewed.
Results:
Intramuscular injection of human HGF plasmid DNA into rat, rabbit, dog and diabetic hindlimb ischemic models, resulted in a significant increase in capillary density, blood flow and blood pressure. but no influence on tumor growth in mice. A clinical trial was performed in ischemic limbs of 6 critical limb ischemic patients, the result showed that no side effect caused by gene transfer was detected in all 6 patients. The pain scale and long diameter of ischemic ulcers were reduced.
Conclusion:
Intramuscular injection of naked HGF plasmid DNA could be a safe and potential treatment for PAD.
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