Role of αv integrins and angiogenesis during wound repair

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Abstract
Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre‐existing blood vessels, is thought to be critical for wound repair. Yet few studies have critically examined dermal wound repair in a system in which angiogenesis was impaired. Since αv‐containing integrins are critical for angiogenesis, we administered either an αv integrin blocking antibody or cyclic arg‐gly‐asp peptide into a murine excisional wound model to restrict wound angiogenesis. Although both methods markedly decreased wound angiogenesis, decreased angiogenesis had no significant effect on wound epithelization, contraction, or ultimate wound closure. These results suggest that if other cellular components of wound healing are intact, moderate impairment of angiogenesis alone does not necessarily retard normal wound healing.