Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) restores blood flow in an experimental model ofperipheral artery occlusive disease.

Objective: This study investigated whether polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) may be efficacious in the treatment of peripheral artery occlusive diseases, which are a major cause of morbidity in Western countries and still lack standardized treatment. Methods: We investigated the effects of PDRN, a mixture of deoxyribonucleotides, in an experimental model of hind limb ischemia (HLI) in rats to stimulate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A production and to avoid critical ischemia. The femoral artery was excised to induce HLI. Sham-operated on rats (sham HLI) were used as controls. Animals were treated daily with intraperitoneal PDRN (8 mg/kg) or its vehicle. Animals were euthanized at day 7, 14, and 21 after the evaluation of blood flow by laser Doppler. Dissected muscles were used to measure VEGF-A messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression, to evaluate edema, and to assess histologic damage. Results: Administration of PDRN dramatically increased VEGF mRNA throughout the study (day 14: HLI, 7 2.2 n-fold/-actin; HLI PDRN, 13.3 3.8 n-fold/-actin; P < .0001) and protein expression (HLI, 11 3.4 integrated intensity; HLI PDRN, 16 3.8 integrated intensity; P < .0001). The compound stimulated revascularization, as confirmed by blood flow restoration (P < .005 vs HLI vehicle), and blunted the histologic damage and the degree of edema. PDRN did not modify VEGF-A expression and blood flow in sham HLI animals. Furthermore, the concomitant administration of 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargilxanthine (DMPX), a selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, abolished the positive effects of PDRN, confirming that PDRN acts through this receptor.