Institute for Human Tissue Restoration, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
Wound Repair Regen. 2011 Nov;19(6):709-17. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-475X.2011.00733.x. Epub 2011 Oct 12.
Relaxin (RLX) has multiple vascular actions, including vasodilation and angiogenesis, which occur via induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. We generated a RLX-expressing (dE1-RGD/lacZ/RLX) adenovirus and investigated whether it enhances skin flap survival. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: RLX-expressing adenovirus group, control virus group, and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group. Two days before surgery and immediately after flap elevation, the caudally based flap that was 3 × 9 cm in size was subdermally injected with the dE1-RGD/lacZ/RLX virus (10⁷ PFU), dE1-RGD/lacZ virus (10⁷ PFU), or PBS. The surviving area of the flap and the amount of blood flow were measured. On postoperative day 10, CD31-positive vessels and VEGF protein expression were examined. We observed a significant increase in the survival area of the flap in the RLX group. Doppler measurement also showed significantly increased blood flow immediately after the operation and on postoperative days 7 and 10. CD31-positive vessels and VEGF protein expression were significantly greater in the RLX group. Thus, administration of RLX-expressing adenovirus into elevated skin flaps increased VEGF expression, the number of capillaries, and blood flow to the flap, thereby improving skin flap survival.
松弛素 (RLX) 具有多种血管作用，包括血管舒张和血管生成，这些作用是通过诱导血管内皮生长因子 (VEGF) 表达来实现的。我们生成了一种表达 RLX 的 (dE1-RGD/lacZ/RLX) 腺病毒，并研究了它是否能提高皮瓣的存活率。30 只 Sprague-Dawley 大鼠分为三组：RLX 表达腺病毒组、对照病毒组和磷酸盐缓冲盐水 (PBS) 组。在手术前 2 天和皮瓣抬高后立即，将大小为 3×9cm 的尾部基底皮瓣通过皮下注射 dE1-RGD/lacZ/RLX 病毒（10⁷PFU）、dE1-RGD/lacZ 病毒（10⁷PFU）或 PBS。测量皮瓣的存活面积和血流量。在术后第 10 天，检查 CD31 阳性血管和 VEGF 蛋白表达。我们观察到 RLX 组皮瓣的存活面积显著增加。多普勒测量也显示术后即刻以及术后第 7 天和第 10 天血流量显著增加。RLX 组的 CD31 阳性血管和 VEGF 蛋白表达明显更大。因此，将 RLX 表达腺病毒注入抬高的皮瓣中可增加 VEGF 表达、毛细血管数量和皮瓣血流，从而提高皮瓣存活率。
