Evaluation of Extracellular Matrix Remodeling in Full-thickness Skin Grafts in Mice

TL;DR

This study examines how full-thickness skin grafts remodel in mice, focusing on cell activity and tissue changes over time.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the cellular and structural remodeling of full-thickness skin grafts in different surgical positions.

Findings

Fibroblast presence, indicated by vimentin and S100A4 staining, was significant in graft remodeling.

Collagen hybridizing peptide staining intensity correlated with S100A4-positive cells in the graft tissue.

Variations in remodeling extent were observed among animals, affecting dense connective tissue formation.

Abstract

Abdominal hernia is a protruding weakness in the abdominal wall. It affects abdominal strength and life quality and can lead to complications due to intestinal entrapment. Autologous full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) has recently become an alternative material for reinforcement in the surgical repair of large abdominal hernias instead of synthetic mesh. FTSG eventually integrates with the abdominal wall, but the long-term fate of the graft itself is not fully understood. This has implications as to how these grafts should be optimally used and handled intraoperatively. This study investigates the remodeling of FTSG in either the onlay or the intraperitoneal position 8 weeks after FTSG transplantation in an experimental mouse model. There was a significant presence of fibroblasts, indicated by vimentin and S100A4 staining, but there were significant variations among animals as to how much of the graft had been remodeled into dense connective tissue. This correlated significantly with the proportion of vimentin-positive cells in the dense connective tissue. We also found that collagen hybridizing peptide staining intensity, a marker of active remodeling, was significantly associated with the proportion of S100A4-positive cells in the dense connective tissue of the FTSG.

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