Epidermal growth factor receptor genes are overexpressed within the periprosthetic soft‐tissue around percutaneous devices: A pilot study

Abstract Epidermal downgrowth around percutaneous devices produce sinus tracts, which then accumulate bacteria becoming foci of infection. This mode to failure is epidermal‐centric, and is accelerated by changes in the chemokines and cytokines of the underlying periprosthetic granulation tissue (GT). In order to more fully comprehend the mechanism of downgrowth, in this 28‐day study, percutaneous devices were placed in 10 Zucker diabetic fatty rats; 5 animals were induced with diabetes mellitus II (DM II) prior to the surgery and 5 animals served as a healthy, nondiabetic cohort. At necropsy, periprosthetic tissues were harvested, and underwent histological and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies. After isolating GTs from the surrounding tissue and extracting ribonucleic acids, PCR array and quantitative‐PCR (qPCR) analyses were carried‐out. The PCR array for 84 key wound‐healing associated genes showed a five‐fold or greater change in 31 genes in the GTs of healthy animals compared to uninjured healthy typical skin tissues. Eighteen genes were overexpressed and these included epidermal growth factor (EGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Thirteen genes were underexpressed. When GTs of DM II animals were compared to healthy animals, there were 8 genes overexpressed and 25 genes underexpressed; under expressed genes included EGF and EGFR. The qPCR and immunohistochemistry data further validated these observations. Pathway analysis of genes up‐regulated 15‐fold or more indicated two, EGFR and interleukin‐10, centric clustering effects. It was concluded that EGFR could be a key player in exacerbating the epidermal downgrowth, and might be an effective target for preventing downgrowth.