Objective: To investigate the results of human amniotic membrane (HAM) which are loaded with marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and epidermis cells in treating full-thickness skin defect combined with radiation injury.
Methods: Eight minipigs were used in this study. Three round full-thickness wounds (phi3.67cm), which combined with radiation injury, were created on the dorsum of each side close to the vertebral column in each animal. Among 48 wounds, 24 left side wounds were treated with HAM loaded with MSCs and epidermis cells as experimental group (group A), 16 right side wounds with simple HAM (HAM group, group B) and 8 right side wounds with oil gauze as control (group C). The granulation tissue, reepithelization and wound area were observed after 1,2 and 3 weeks. Immunohistochemistry was performed using vWF as a marker for blood vessels. Image analysis was employed to test new area of wound at different interval time and healing rate of wound.
Results: The healing time of group A was 6 to 7 days faster than that of group C and 5 to 6 days fister than that of group B. After 15-17 days of graft, there were significant differences in new area of wound and healing rate between group A and groups B, C (P < 0. 01). New epidermis fully covered whole wound surface in group A, and their granulation tissue, which contained a lot of vWF, fibroblasts, capillaries and collagen, grew well. Many inflammatory cells still were seen in groups B and C, and their contents of vWF, fibroblasts, capillaries and collagen in granulation tissue were smaller than that in group A.
Conclusion: The graft of HAM loaded with MSCs and epidermis cells played an effective role in promoting healing of wound combined radiation injury with high quality.