Effects of vascular endothelial growth factor released from cultured dermal substitute on proliferation of vascular endothelial cells in vitro

Abstract

Allogeneic cultured dermal substitute (CDS) was prepared by culturing fibroblasts on a two-layered spongy matrix of hyaluronic acid and atelocollagen. CDS can be cryopreserved and transported to other hospitals in a frozen state. The present study was designed to analyze the amounts of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) released from fibroblasts in fresh and cryopreserved CDS and to investigate the effects of this VEGF on proliferation of vascular endothelial cells in vitro. The culture medium used in preparing CDS (fresh CDS culture medium sample) was collected and stored at −30°C for the quantitative analysis of VEGF. After thawing cryopreserved CDS, it was recultured in a culture medium for 1 week. The culture medium used was collected and stored at −30°C for quantitative analysis of VEGF. The amounts of VEGF released from the fresh and cryopreserved CDS into the culture medium were about 610 pg/ml and 640 pg/ml, respectively. This finding suggests that the cryopreserved CDS retains its ability to release VEGF. Immunohistological analysis indicated that some of the VEGF adhered to the matrix. Human vascular endothelial cells were cultured in medium mixed with the fresh or cryopreserved CDS culture medium sample. Proliferation of vascular endothelial cells was enhanced by increasing the concentration of both CDS culture medium samples. When antihuman VEGF antibody was added to the culture medium, the proliferative activity of vascular endothelial cells was reduced. These findings confirm that VEGF released from CDS promotes proliferation of vascular endothelial cells.