Perivascular cells in a skin graft are rapidly repopulated by host cells

• Published in: Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery reconstructive & aesthetic surgery, 2007-01, Vol.60 (8), p.864-875
• Main Authors: O'Ceallaigh, S, Herrick, S.E, Bennett, W.R, Bluff, J.E, Ferguson, M.W.J, McGrouther, D.A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; DiI; GFP; Graft Survival - physiology; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Plastic Surgery; Revascularisation; Skin - blood supply; Skin - cytology; Skin graft; Skin Transplantation; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Transplantation, Autologous
• ISSN: 1748-6815; 1878-0539
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2006.03.036

Summary Survival of grafted tissues is dependent upon revascularisation. This study investigated revascularisation in a murine skin graft model, using two methods. The first involved 1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylindocarbocyanine (DiI) labelling of the wound bed, prior to replacing the skin graft, to allow tracking of host cells into the grafts. At time points between day 3 and day 14 post-surgery, DiI-labelled cells which had tracked into the grafts, were found to co-localise with CD31 positive endothelial cells and patent perfused vessels (fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)–dextran perfusion), to show possible association with the vasculature. To further differentiate between graft and host-derived cells, C57BL/6 wild-type grafts were placed on enhanced-green fluorescent protein (e-GFP) transgenic mouse hosts, and at set times post-grafting examined using confocal microscopy. Patent vessels were found at all depths of the graft by day 3. Host (DiI- or GFP-positive) cells were predominantly co-localised with graft vessels in grafts from day 3 onwards, with a similar morphology to control skin. Significantly more GFP labelled host cells were visualised in the superficial dermis at day 5 compared to day 3. Initial restoration of circulation appears to be due to linkage between existing graft and bed vessels, followed by an influx of host cells with a definite perivascular distribution. These findings have implications for skin autografts and tissue engineered skin substitutes.