Differential Angiogenic and Proliferative Activity of Surgical and Burn Wound Fluids

Authors:
  • RGRichard L. Gamelli
    Richard L. Gamelli
  • PPPeter J. Polverini
    Peter J. Polverini
  • LDLuisa A. DiPietro
    Luisa A. DiPietro
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Abstract
Invasive surgical wounds exhibit the rapid production of a robustly proangiogenic environment. To compare the immediate angiogenic environment of wounds of different types, the angiogenic activity of fluid derived from burn injuries and wounds confined to the dermis was examined and compared with that of deeper surgical wounds. The angiogenic activity of surgical wound fluid (SWF) (n = 7), skin graft wound fluid (SGF) (n = 3), and burn wound fluid (BWF) (n = 4) was assessed by measuring endothelial cell (EC) proliferative activity, EC chemotactic activity, and angiogenic activity in the rat corneal assay. The fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) level of each wound fluid was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. SWF exhibited significant EC proliferative activity, SGF exhibited intermediate activity, and BWF displayed no EC proliferative activity. Seventy-one percent of SWF samples, 33% of SGF, and 0% of BWF contained significant EC chemotactic activity. Each wound fluid sample that demonstrated significant chemotactic activity also evoked a positive corneal angiogenic response. SWF contained 914 +/- 170 pg/mL of FGF-2, whereas SGF and BWF contained just 164 +/- 54 pg/mL and 37 +/- 7 pg/mL of FGF-2, respectively. The results suggest that injuries confined to the dermis, whether thermal or excisional, elicit a less robust initial angiogenic stimulus than deep surgical wounds.

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