Objective This study investigates the efficacy of adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) combined with low‐molecular weight hyaluronic acid (LMW‐HA) for burn wound healing. Previous research has demonstrated that ADSCs can improve healing rates and has shown their synergistic effects with agents like platelet‐rich plasma and hyaluronic acid in promoting wound closure. Methods ADSCs were isolated from the inguinal fat of SD rats and characterized by flow cytometry and western blot. LMW‐HA (8000–15,000 u) was prepared as a 0.1% sterile stock solution. We created a full‐thickness burn wound (2 cm diameter) in 24 healthy SD rats (3 months old, 250 g) and randomly assigned them to four treatment groups ( n = 6 per group): a phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) control, 0.1% LMW‐HA in PBS, 6.25 × 10 5 ADSCs in PBS via intradermal injection, and a combination of 6.25 × 10 5 ADSCs with 0.1% LMW‐HA in PBS, also delivered intradermally. To inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling, additional subgroups ( n = 6 each) received the VEGF blocker bevacizumab (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, twice daily). Wound closure rates were quantified on days 0, 1, 2, 7, 12, 18, and 21. Histopathological evaluation via H&E and Masson’s trichrome staining used standardized protocols (5 μm sections, controlled staining times) to assess epidermal thickness, collagen density, inflammatory cell infiltration (scored 0–3), and vessel count per high‐power field (HPF, ×400). VEGF and CD31 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Data were analyzed by one‐way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test for group comparisons and by repeated‐measures ANOVA for longitudinal data, consistent with established methods. Results The isolated ADSCs exhibited a fibroblast‐like morphology and strongly expressed mesenchymal markers (CD29, CD44, CD73, and CD105) while lacking expression of hematopoietic markers (CD34 and CD45), consistent with typical MSC profiles. Treatment with ADSCs, LMW‐HA alone, or their combination significantly accelerated burn wound healing relative to the control. By day 21, the treated groups achieved a wound closure rate of 77.1%, compared to 33% in the control group. Histological analysis revealed complete epidermal regeneration, well‐organized collagen fibers, and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in the combination group, demonstrating synergistic effects from the combined therapy. Immunological assays confirmed a significant increase in VEGF and CD31 expression with combination therapy, corresponding to a higher vessel density (58.12 ± 18.65 vessels/mm 2 versus 14.35 ± 5.21 vessels/mm 2 in controls). VEGF blockade subsequently impaired wound healing, reduced collagen deposition, and downregulated VEGF and CD31 expression across all treatment groups. Conclusions Recent studies indicate that combining ADSCs with LMW‐HA significantly accelerates burn wound healing. This effect is mediated by the upregulation of VEGF expression and the promotion of angiogenesis, both critical to the healing mechanism. These findings align with clinical and experimental evidence supporting the efficacy of stem cell therapies for burn wounds.
Chen et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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