PRP improves the outcomes of autologous skin graft transplantation on the esophagus by promoting angiogenesis and inhibiting fibrosis and inflammation

Abstract

Background and objectives: Autologous skin graft (ASG) transplantation is a challenging approach but a promising option for patients to prevent postoperative esophageal stricture. Nonetheless, the current strategies require improvement. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) before skin graft transplantation for extensive esophageal defects after endoscopic resection.

Methods: Standardized complete circular endoscopic resection (5 cm in length) was performed in 27 pigs allocated into 3 groups. The artificial ulcers were treated with a fully covered esophageal stent (control group), ASG (ASG group), and submucosal injection of PRP with ASG (PRP-ASG group). Macroscopic evaluation and histological analysis of the remolded esophagus were performed 7, 14, and 28 days after surgery.

Results: The macroscopic evaluation indicated that submucosal injection of PRP before transplantation effectively promoted the survival rate of skin grafts and decreased the rate of mucosal contraction compared with those treated with ASG or stent alone. Histological analysis of submucosal tissue showed that this modified strategy significantly promoted wound healing of reconstructed tissues by enhancing angiogenesis, facilitating collagen deposition, and decreasing inflammation and fibrogenesis.

Conclusions: These findings suggested that PRP might be used as a biological supplement to increase the esophageal skin graft survival rate and improve submucosal tissue remolding in a clinically relevant porcine model. With extremely low mucosal contraction, this novel combination strategy showed the potential to effectively prevent stenosis in extensive esophageal ulcers.

Keywords: angiogenesis; autologous skin graft; esophageal strictures; fibrogenesis; mucosal contraction; platelet-rich plasma.