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In vivo optical imaging of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor following laser incision in skin
Author(s) -
Izzo Agnella D.,
Mackanos Mark A.,
Beckham Joshua T.,
Jansen E. Duco
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.1127
Subject(s) - in vivo , green fluorescent protein , wound healing , lesion , pathology , gene expression , laser , transgene , reporter gene , medicine , chemistry , biology , surgery , gene , optics , biochemistry , physics , microbiology and biotechnology
Abstract Background and Objective Laser–tissue interaction studies have focused on laser‐induced secondary effects on tissue and the postmortem histological analysis of laser wounds. In this study we addressed wound healing and possible impairment of wound healing due to collateral tissue damage by in vivo imaging of gene expression. Study Design/Materials and Methods We used a transgenic mouse model containing a VEGF promoter driving a GFP reporter gene to image VEGF expression in vivo. Twenty‐two mice received two full thickness incisions in the dorsal skin: one with the Free Electron Laser (λ = 6.45 μm, 52.9 mJ/mm 2 ) and one with a scalpel. Mice were imaged for GFP expression at 3 days, 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks. Confocal microscopic imaging was performed at 2 weeks. Results Peak GFP expression was seen at 2–3 weeks and was localized in fibroblasts. FEL lesions showed more total GFP expression than scalpel lesions but this was only statistically significant ( P < 0.05) at 2 and 4 weeks. The full‐width half‐max (FWHM) of the GFP expression was always larger for the FEL lesion compared to the scalpel lesion but was only statistically significant ( P < 0.05) at 2 and 3 weeks. At 2 weeks the extent of the GFP expression in the laser lesion was on average 55 μm beyond that seen in the scalpel lesion but correlated with the number of laser passes. Conclusions Feasibility of using transgenic mice carrying photoactive reporter genes for studying cellular process of laser‐inflicted wound repair in a noninvasive, in vivo manner was shown. GFP expression mediated by the VEGF promoter in fibroblast showed minimal impairment of wound healing due to the laser. Lasers Surg. Med. 29:343–350, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.