[Effects and mechanism of hepatocyte growth factor-modified human adipose mesenchymal stem cells on wound healing of full-thickness skin defects in diabetic rats].

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects and mechanism of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-modified human adipose mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) on the wound healing of full-thickness skin defects in diabetic rats. Methods: The experimental research method was adopted. The discarded abdominal adipose tissue was collected from a 35-year-old healthy female who underwent abdominal liposuction in the Department of Plastic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University in December 2019. The long spindle-shaped primary ADSCs were obtained by collagenase digestion, and the third passage of cells were identified by flow cytometry to positively express ADSCs surface markers CD29 and CD90 and negatively express CD34 and CD45. The third passage of ADSCs were used for the subsequent experiments. ADSCs were transfected with lentivirus-mediated HGF for 4 h (obtaining HGF modified ADSCs) and then routinely cultured for 24 h. The cell morphology was observed under an inverted phase contrast microscope, and the transfection rate was calculated. Eighty-one male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 4 weeks were induced into diabetic rat model by high glucose and high fat diet combined with streptozotocin injection. A full-thickness skin defect wound of 1.5 cm×1.5 cm was made on the back of each rat. The injured rats were divided into phosphate buffer solution (PBS) group, ADSCs alone group, and HGF-modified ADSCs group according to the random number table, with 27 rats in each group. The rats were injected with the same volume of corresponding substances around the wound on post injury day (PID) 1, 3, and 7, respectively. Nine rats in each group were selected according to the random number table, the wound area of whom was measured on PID 0 (immediately), 3, 7, 10, and 14 (after injection on injection day), and the wound healing rates on PID 3, 7, 10, and 14 were calculated. Nine remaining rats in each group were sacrificed after injection on PID 3 and 7, respectively, and the skin tissue around the wound were collected. The mRNA expressions of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and IL-10 on PID 3 and collagen type Ⅰ and Ⅲ on PID 7 were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on PID 7. The protein expression of nuclear factor κb-p65 on PID 3 and phosphorylation level of protein kinase B (Akt) on PID 7 were detected by Western blotting. Data were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance for repeated measurement, one-way analysis of variance, least significant difference t test, and Bonferroni correction. Results: After 24 h of culture, the HGF-transfected human ADSCs showed good morphology, which was not different with the non-transfected ADSCs, and the transfection rate reached 90%. On PID 3, 7, 10, and 14, the wound healing rates of rats in HGF-modified ADSCs group were (31.5±1.0)%, (75.2±2.0)%, (92.2±1.3)%, and (99.1±1.8)%, respectively, being significantly higher than (21.4±1.3)%, (61.4±1.5)%, (80.1±2.1)%, and (92.4±1.8)% in PBS group and (25.1±2.1)%, (67.2±1.3)%, (89.3±1.4)%, and (95.1±2.1)% in ADSCs alone group (t=1.452, 0.393, 0.436, 0.211, 4.982, 3.011, 4.211, 7.503, P<0.05 or P<0.01). On PID 3, compared with those in PBS group and ADSCs alone group, the mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β and protein expression of nuclear factor κb-p65 in the skin tissue around the wound of rats in HGF-modified ADSCs group were significantly decreased (t=7.281, 17.700, 9.447, 6.231, 13.083, 7.783, P<0.01), and the mRNA expression of IL-10 in the skin tissue around the wound of rats in HGF-modified ADSCs group was significantly increased (t=-6.644, -6.381, P<0.01). On PID 7, compared with those in PBS group and ADSCs alone group, the mRNA expressions of collagen type Ⅰ and Ⅲ, the expression level of VEGF, and the phosphorylation level of Akt in the skin tissue around the wound of rats in HGF-modified ADSCs group were significantly increased (t=-5.126, -4.347, -5.058, -3.367, -10.694, -19.876, -4.890, -6.819, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions: HGF-modified human ADSCs can significantly promote the wound healing of full-thickness skin defects in diabetic rats. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of TNF-α and IL-1β expression, the promotion of IL-10, collagen type Ⅰ and Ⅲ, and VEGF expression, which could be related to the inhibition of nuclear factor κB signaling pathway, and the promotion of Akt signaling pathway.