[Expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 in acellular dermal matrix grafting in pigs]

To explore the expression of the vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) in the acellular dermal matrix grafting in pigs.

Experimental models were established with 15 Inbred Strain mini pigs, 6 full-thichness skin defect wounds, 6 cm x 6 cm in size, were produced on both-side backs of the each pig, and then the pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups. In Group A (n = 5, control) the thin auto-skin transplantation alone was made; in Group B (n = 5), the grafting was performed in the acellular allo-dermal matrix combined with the thin auto-skins; in Group C (n = 5), the grafting was performed in the acellular xeno-dermal matrix combined with the thin auto-skins. The areas of the wounds were measured and the survival condition of the grafted skins was observed at 3, 9, 21 and 30 days after the grafting. The histological samples were harvested from the grafting area at 3, 6, 9, 12, 21 and 30 days after the procedure. The flow cytometry was employed to analyze the changes in the VCAM-1 level in the sample at different time points after the grafting.

In the 3 groups, the transplanted skin base was easily separated at 3 days after transplantation; the areas of the wound healing accounted for 94Y+/- 12%, 92%+/- 9% , and 91%+/- 11%, respectively, at 21 days; good wound healing was achieved at 30 days. At 9 and 12 days after transplantation, there was an evidently-increased level of the VCAM-1 expression in the tissue samples in the composite skin grafting groups. Compared with the control group, the difference was significant (P < 0.05); however, the VCAM-1 expression at 3 days was not statistically different between the composite skin grafting groups and the control group after transplantation. In contrast, the level of the VCAM-1 expression was significantly higher at 6 days in the control group than in the composite skin grafting groups (P < 0.05). The levels of the VCAM-1 expression were significantly lower at 30 days than at 3 days after transplantation in all the 3 groups (P < 0.01).

The highest level of the VCAM-1 expression can be delayed in the composite skin grafting when compared with that in the thin auto-skins alone, which implies that the VCAM-1 expression may be correlated with angiogenesis and composite skin survival. The VCAM-1 expression is not different between the acellular allo-dermal matrix composite skin grafting groups and the acellular xeno-dermal matrix group.