Platelet-derived growth factor B-chain of hematopoietic origin is not necessary for granulation tissue formation and its absence enhances vascularization

The hypothesis that wound repair is augmented by delivery of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) from platelets and macrophages is an attractive extrapolation from the known activities of PDGF in cell culture and in vivo. To test this hypothesis in mice, we prepared hematopoietic chimeras, in which the hematopoietic system of a normal adult mouse was replaced by the hematopoietic system of a PDGF B-chain -/- or +/+ donor. We initiated local granulation tissue formation either by implanting small surgical sponges to elicit a foreign body granulation tissue response, or by ligating the left common carotid to form an organized thrombus. We found that the absence of hematopoietic PDGF B-chain did not decrease the extent of granulation tissue or vascular lesion formation, and that the vascularization of both lesions increased by similar to 100%. We conclude that PDGF B-chain from cells of hematopoietic origin, including platelets and macrophages, is not important for granulation tissue formation, and that it reduces vascularization of granulation issue, probably through disabling of the short-range chemotactic gradients of PDGF that are important for recruiting pericytes/smooth muscle cells to the endothelium of new vessels.