Experimental study of gene therapy with human vascular endothelial growth factor-c in lymphedema / 中华整形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the efficacy of gene therapy with human vascular endothelial growth factor-c (VEGF-C) on obstructive lymphedema.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two animal models of lymphedema were created one in the right hind limb of adult New Zealand white rabbits and the other in SD mouse tail. Each model was randomly divided into two groups to receive intradermal injection of either VEGF-C gene (experimental group), or saline(control group). In rabbit model, the volume change of affected limb was measured. In mouse model, biopsy was performed after 3 weeks treatment to detect the expression of VEGF-C mRNA and proteins. The lymphagenesis was evaluated by immunohistochemical examination with lymphatic endothelium hyaluronan receptor antibody.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The volume of the affect rabbit limb decreased by (24.40 +/- 1.08) ml in experimental group, compared with (5.80 +/- 1.92) ml in control group (P = 0.0001). The expression of VEGF-C mRNA and protein increased markedly in experiment group, but not in controls. More lymphatic vessels with large caliber were seen in experiment group (P = 0.0004).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>VEGF-C gene therapy may alleviate or treat lymphedema by inducing lyphmangiogenesis.</p>