BACKGROUND 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.

中文翻译：

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用封装在水凝胶微球内的内皮集落形成细胞治疗马远端肢体伤口后的细胞植入、血管化和炎症。


背景技术内皮集落形成细胞（ECFC）可用于治疗血液供应不良的情况，例如马的远端肢体伤口。将 ECFC 封装到可注射水凝胶微球中可以确保细胞存活和细胞定位，从而改善新血管形成和愈合。从 6 匹马身上分离出自体 ECFC，并用量子纳米点 (QD) 进行标记，其中一部分被封装在聚乙二醇纤维蛋白原微球 (PEG-Fb MS) 中。在每个远端肢体上创建全层真皮伤口，并注射空 PEG-Fb MS、血清、ECFC 或封装在 PEG-Fb MS 中的 ECFC (ECFC/MS)。分析包括伤口表面积（WSA）、肉芽组织评分（GS）、热成像、胶原密度染色以及内皮细胞和炎症细胞的免疫组织化学染色。本研究的目的是在马远端肢体伤口注射 ECFC/MS 或裸 ECFC 后追踪细胞位置并评估伤口血管化和炎症反应。结果 注射后 3 周内，在新形成的血管附近和内部发现了 ECFC。 ECFC组和ECFC/MS组在第1周时伤口周围的血管数量最多。使用 ECFC 和 ECFC/MS 治疗的伤口在第 4 周时中性粒细胞和巨噬细胞密度最低。ECFC 或 ECFC/MS 治疗对其他测量参数没有显着影响。结论 注射微球封装的 ECFC 在临床上实用且耐受性良好。 ECFC 治疗对血管密度和伤口炎症的积极作用值得进一步研究。