The impact of intercellular communication for the generation of complex multicellular prevascularized tissue equivalents

In reconstructive surgery the use of prevascularized soft tissue equivalents is a promising approach for wound coverage of defects after tumor resection or trauma. However, in previous studies to generate soft tissue equivalents on collagen membranes, microcapillaries were restricted to superficial areas. In this study, to understand which factors were involved in the formation of these microcapillaries, the levels of the angiogenic factors vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the supernatants of the tissue equivalents were examined at various time points and conditions. Additionally, the influence of these factors on …