Transfection with aFGF cDNA improves wound healing

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Molecular Biology
• Wound Healing Research

Background:

• Somatic gene therapy offers a novel approach for delivering therapeutic agents like growth factors to improve wound healing.
• Diabetic mice (db/db) exhibit impaired wound healing, making them a relevant model for studying therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) gene therapy in accelerating wound healing in a mouse model.
• To assess the impact of aFGF gene delivery on wound closure, strength, and tissue quality in diabetic mice.

Main Methods:

• Experimental excisional and incisional wounds were created in diabetic mice (db/db).
• Treatment involved topical application of recombinant aFGF or transfection with a eukaryotic expression plasmid encoding aFGF, using cationic liposomes to facilitate uptake.
• Gene expression was confirmed using RT-PCR, immune dot blot, and immunohistochemistry.

Main Results:

• Both recombinant aFGF and aFGF plasmid transfection significantly accelerated excisional wound closure (p < 0.05).
• Incisional wounds treated with aFGF or plasmid showed significantly increased wound-breaking strength (p < 0.05).
• Quantitative histology indicated improved wound quality in plasmid-treated incisional wounds, with transient gene expression observed.

Conclusions:

• Somatic gene delivery of aFGF effectively promotes wound healing in a diabetic mouse model.
• aFGF gene therapy leads to both gene expression and functional improvements in wound healing, suggesting its therapeutic potential.