Nestin-expressing interfollicular blood vessel network contributes to skin transplant survival and wound healing

Abstract

Using nestin-driven green fluorescent protein (ND-GFP) transgenic mice, we previously demonstrated an inter-hair-follicle blood vessel network that expresses ND-GFP and appears to originate from ND-GFP expressing hair-follicle stem cells. We report here that angiogenesis of transplanted skin or healing wounds originates from this ND-GFP-expressing microvasculature network. ND-GFP-expressing blood vessels were visualized growing from the ND-GFP-expressing hair-follicle stem cell area and re-establishing the dermal microvasculature network after skin transplantation or wound healing. When the ND-GFP stem cell area from the vibrissa (whisker) from ND-GFP mice was transplanted to transgenic mice ubiquitously expressing RFP, we observed chimeric ND-GFP-RFP blood vessels, suggesting the joining of inter-follicular blood vessel networks from the transplant and host. These observations suggest that the inter-hair-follicle blood-vessel network contributes to skin transplant survival and wound healing.