Can Fibroblast Cells Be Used to Deliver the VEGF Gene to Promote Fracture Healing?
Ru Li, MD (n); Duncan J. Stewart, MD (n); Herbert vonSchroeder, MD (n); Emil H. Schemitsch, MD (n); St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of using fibroblast cells to deliver the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene locally to promote healing at a rabbit tibia fracture site. Fibroblast cells are advantageous because they are plentiful and easy to work with. Methods: Primary fibroblasts were cultured until 80% confluent and transfected with pcDNA-VEGF using SuperFect (Qiagen Inc) or labeled with the viable fluorophore chloromethyl trimethyl rhodamine (CMTMR) for injection. Using New Zealand White male rabbits, under anesthesia, a 10-mm segmental bone defect was created after excision of 12 mm of the periosteum in the middle third of each tibia. The fracture was stabilized with a stainless steel plate (2.7-mm 9-hole DCP). 14 experimental rabbits were injected with 5.0 x 106 cells t
