[Experimental study on the inflammatory and immune responses of xenogenic acellular dermal matrix transplantation combined with thin split-thickness skin autograft].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the dynamic process of the inflammatory response and the profile of Th1/Th2 cytokines after xenogenic acellular dermal matrix (ADM) transplantation with thin split-thickness skin autograft overlay.

METHODS

SD rats were used in the study. In the control group, thin split-thickness skin autograft (STSG) was transplanted in the full-thickness skin defect of the SD rats; in the experimental group, the xenogenic acellular dermal matrix combined with thin split-thickness skin autograft was transplanted. The inflammatory response was examined histologically and Th1/Th2 cytokine mRNA expression in skin grafts was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Inflammatory reaction was induced by ADM at the early stage of transplantation and decreased gradually. Th2 cytokine mRNA expression was higher in the ADM group than that of the control group whereas the Th1 cytokine mRNA expression was undetected in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Xenogenic acellular dermal matrix is immunogenic. The increased expression of Th2 cytokines may be related to the humoral immune responses and the absence of ADM graft rejection.