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BMC veterinary research2020; 16(1); 43; doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-2269-y

Cell engraftment, vascularization, and inflammation after treatment of equine distal limb wounds with endothelial colony forming cells encapsulated within hydrogel microspheres.

Abstract: Endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) may be useful therapeutically in conditions with poor blood supply, such as distal limb wounds in the horse. Encapsulation of ECFCs into injectable hydrogel microspheres may ensure cell survival and cell localization to improve neovascularization and healing. Autologous ECFCs were isolated from 6 horses, labeled with quantum nanodots (QD), and a subset were encapsulated in poly(ethylene) glycol fibrinogen microspheres (PEG-Fb MS). Full-thickness dermal wounds were created on each distal limb and injected with empty PEG-Fb MS, serum, ECFCs, or ECFCs encapsulated into PEG- Fb MS (ECFC/MS). Analysis included wound surface area (WSA), granulation tissue scoring (GS), thermography, collagen density staining, and immunohistochemical staining for endothelial and inflammatory cells. The purpose of this study was to track cell location and evaluate wound vascularization and inflammatory response after injection of ECFC/MS or naked ECFCs in equine distal limb wounds. Results: ECFCs were found near and within newly formed blood vessels up to 3 weeks after injection. ECFC and ECFC/MS groups had the greatest blood vessel quantity at week 1 in the wound periphery. Wounds treated with ECFCs and ECFC/MS had the lowest density of neutrophils and macrophages at week 4. There were no significant effects of ECFC or ECFC/MS treatment on other measured parameters. Conclusions: Injection of microsphere encapsulated ECFCs was practical for clinical use and well-tolerated. The positive ECFC treatment effects on blood vessel density and wound inflammation warrant further investigation.
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Publication Date: 2020-02-04 PubMed ID: 32019556PubMed Central: PMC7001230DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-2269-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article describes a study in which researchers examined the therapeutic potential of endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) encapsulated in hydrogel microspheres for treating leg wounds in horses, particularly assessing their effects on blood supply, wound vascularization, and inflammation.

Research Context and Objectives

  • The researchers were investigating the possible therapeutic uses of ECFCs for treating conditions with poor blood supply, such as wounds on the distal limbs of horses.
  • ECFCs were encapsulated in hydrogel microspheres to ensure their survival and effective localization, potentially improving neovascularization (new blood vessel formation) and healing.
  • The study aimed to track the location of these cells once they were injected into the wounds, and to evaluate how the treatment affected vascularization and the inflammatory response – two crucial aspects of wound healing.

Research Methodology

  • Autologous ECFCs (those derived from the horses themselves) were isolated and marked with quantum nanodots (QD) for tracking.
  • The researchers created full-thickness dermal wounds on each horse’s distal limb and injected these with various treatments including empty microspheres, serum, naked ECFCs (i.e., not encapsulated), or ECFCs encapsulated in microspheres (ECFC/MS).
  • To understand the effects of the treatments, the researchers induced different categories of changes, such as wound surface area, the formation of granulation tissue, thermography, collagen density staining, and immunohistochemical staining for endothelial (blood vessel lining) and inflammatory cells.

Research Findings

  • A significant observation was that ECFCs were located near and within newly formed blood vessels up to three weeks post-injection, suggesting the cells were functioning as intended.
  • The ECFC and ECFC/MS treatment groups demonstrated the highest quantity of new blood vessels at the wound periphery during the first week, potentially indicating improved vascularization.
  • There was a decreased density of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell involved in inflammation) and macrophages (cells that engulf and digest cellular debris) in wounds treated with ECFCs and ECFC/MS at the 4-week mark. This suggests that these treatments might help control inflammation during the healing process.
  • No other significant effects were discovered in relation to other measured parameters of the study.

Research Conclusion

  • The researchers found that injecting microsphere-encapsulated ECFCs was practical and well-tolerated in a clinical setting.
  • Overall, the study suggests that the use of ECFCs may have positive effects on blood vessel density and wound inflammation, which warrants further investigation.

Cite This Article

APA
Winter RL, Tian Y, Caldwell FJ, Seeto WJ, Koehler JW, Pascoe DA, Fan S, Gaillard P, Lipke EA, Wooldridge AA. (2020). Cell engraftment, vascularization, and inflammation after treatment of equine distal limb wounds with endothelial colony forming cells encapsulated within hydrogel microspheres. BMC Vet Res, 16(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-2269-y

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 1
Pages: 43

Researcher Affiliations

Winter, Randolph L
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Tian, Yuan
  • Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Caldwell, Fred J
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Seeto, Wen J
  • Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Koehler, Jey W
  • Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Pascoe, David A
  • School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Fan, Shirley
  • Department of Mathematics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Gaillard, Phillippe
  • Department of Mathematics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Lipke, Elizabeth A
  • Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Wooldridge, Anne A
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA. aaw0002@auburn.edu.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Transplantation / methods
  • Cell Transplantation / veterinary
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Horses
  • Hydrogels / chemistry
  • Metacarpus / injuries
  • Metatarsus / injuries
  • Microspheres
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic
  • Quantum Dots
  • Subcutaneous Tissue
  • Wound Healing

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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This article has been cited 7 times.
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