BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that skin flap transplantation technique plays an important role in surgical procedures. However, there are many problems in the process of skin flap transplantation surgeries, especially ischemia-reperfusion injury, which directly affects the survival rate of the skin flap and patient prognosis after surgeries.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, we used a new method of the “stem cells-gene” combination therapy. The “F-5” gene fragment of heat shock protein 90-α (Hsp90-α) was transfected into human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) by genetic engineering technique.

RESULTS: The synergistic effects of “F-5” gene and hUC-MSCs in the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion injury of the skin flap were confirmed by histochemical and immunohistochemical methods.

CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the hUC-MSCs transfected with “F-5” gene can effectively improve the repair of ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Keywords: Heat-Shock Proteins, mesenchymal stromal cells