Extracellular Vesicles Isolated From Hypoxia-Preconditioned Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Promote Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1α–Mediated Neovascularization of Random Skin Flap in Rats

Background Random flaps are widely used for wound repair. However, flap necrosis is a serious complication leading to the failure of operation. Our previous study demonstrated a great proangiogenic potential of hypoxia-treated adipose-derived stem cells–extracellular vesicles (HT-ASC-EVs). Thus, we aim to evaluate the effect of HT-ASC-EVs in the survival and angiogenesis of random skin flap in rats. Methods Adipose-derived stem cells–extracellular vesicles were respectively isolated from adipose-derived stem cell culture medium of 3 donors via ultracentrifugation. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and proangiogenic potential of HT-ASC-EVs and ASC-EVs were compared by co-culturing with human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 group (n = 10/group). A 9 × 3-cm random skin flap was separated from the underlying fascia with both sacral arteries sectioned on each rat. The survival and angiogenesis of flaps treated by ASC-EVs or HT-ASC-EVs were also compared. Laser Doppler flowmetry and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate skin perfusion and angiogenesis of skin flaps on postoperative day 7. Results Hypoxia-treated adipose-derived stem cells–extracellular vesicles further improve the proliferation, migration, tube formation with upregulated HIF-1α, and VEGF expression of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro, compared with ASC-EVs. In vivo, postoperatively injecting HT-ASC-EVs suppressed necrosis rate (29.1 ± 2.8% vs 59.2 ± 2.1%) and promoted the angiogenesis of skin flap including improved skin perfusion (803.2 ± 24.3 vs 556.3 ± 26.7 perfusion unit), increased number of CD31-positive cells, and upregulated expression of HIF-1α in vascular endothelium on postoperative day 7, compared with ASC-EVs. Conclusions Intradermal injecting HT-ASC-EVs improve the survival of random skin flap by promoting HIF-1α–mediated angiogenesis in rat model.