Role of alpha(v) integrins and angiogenesis during wound repair

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing blood ve ssels, is thought to be critical for wound repair. Yet few studies have cri tically examined dermal wound repair in a system in which angiogenesis was impaired. Since alpha(v)-containing integrins are critical for angiogenesis , we administered either an alpha(v) integrin blocking antibody or cyclic a rg-gly-asp peptide into a murine excisional wound model to restrict wound a ngiogenesis. Although both methods markedly decreased wound angiogenesis, d ecreased angiogenesis had no significant effect on wound epithelization, co ntraction, or ultimate wound closure. These results suggest that if other c ellular components of wound healing are intact, moderate impairment of angi ogenesis alone does not necessarily retard normal wound healing.