Abstract

Abstract. The integrin family of proteins has been shown to be involved in the malignant behavior of cells. We report here development of a color-coded imaging model that can visualize the interaction between αv integrin linked to green fluorescent protein (GFP) in osteosarcoma cells and blood vessels in Gelfoam ® vascularized after implantation in red fluorescent protein (RFP) transgenic nude mice. Human 143B osteosarcoma cells expressing αv integrin-GFP were generated by transfection with an αv integrin-GFP vector. Gelfoam ® (5×5 mm) was transplanted subcutaneously in transgenic RFP nude mice. The implanted Gelfoam ® became highly vascularized with RFP vessels within 14 days. Skin flaps were made at days 7, 14, 21, 28 after transplantation of Gelfoam ® for observing vascularization of the Gelfoam® using fluorescence imaging. Gelfoam ® is a useful tool t