Lack of Keratinocyte Growth Factor Retards Angiogenesis in Cutaneous Wounds

This study investigated the effects of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) on wound healing. Full-thickness excisional dorsal wounds were created on KGF knockout mice (KGF KO, n = 12) and wild-type C57BL/6 mice (WT, n = 12), and wound closure rates were measured. Immunohistochemical staining was used to investigate cell proliferation and blood vessel density by assessing Ki67 and CD31 protein levels, respectively, and real-time reverse transcription—polymerase chain reaction was used to measure vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA levels. No differences in the rate of wound closure were found between KGF KO and WT mice, however the KGF KO mice showed decreased proliferation of keratinocytes, angiogenesis and VEGF mRNA levels in vivo. These results suggest that KGF may play an important role in the regulation of VEGF gene expression and angiogenesis during wound healing.