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| VEGF Expression during the Formation and Development of Radiation-Induced Skin Ulcers and Its Effects on Ulcer Healing: A Comparative Study with Normal Wound Healing |
| GU Qing-yang, WANG De-wen, CUI Yu-fang, et al |
| Institute of Radiation Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China |
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Abstract Objective To study VEGF expression during the formation and development of radiation-induced skin ulcers and its effects on ulcer healing.Methods A rat model which was locally irradiated with 60Co γ-rays was used, and another rat model of simple skin wounds was made.Pathological changes were observed for 55 days.Immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and image analysis were performed to detect VEGF expression in the tissue of radiation skin ulcers and in the simple wounds.Results Skin ulcers were found on day 14 after irradiation, and they were enlarged and deepened gradually during the observation period.In the irradiated skin, especially in the epidermal cells, fibroblasts and endothelial cells in the ulcer beds, the expression of VEGF was higher than that in normal skin.But VEGF expression was obviously decreased in the radiation ulcer beds compared to that in the surgical wound beds.Conclusion After irradiation, the decreased expression of VEGF may play an important role in the formation, development and nonhealing mechanism of radiation skin ulcers.
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Received: 16 January 2002
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