title: Acidic fibroblast growth factor accelerates dermal wound healing.
abstract: Acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) is a potent mitogen in vitro for many cells of ectodermal and mesodermal embryonic origin including skin-derived epidermal keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells. Based on the mitogenic activity for these skin-derived cells, we tested the ability of topically applied aFGF to promote healing of full-thickness dermal wounds in healthy rodents. Low doses of aFGF can produce almost a two-fold maximum acceleration in the rate of closure of full-thickness dermal punch biopsy wounds in young healthy mice and rats. The mitogen also produces a 3 to 4 day acceleration in the time to complete closure in rats. Quantitative histomorphometric analysis of wound tissue shows that aFGF induces a marked stimulation of angiogenesis, granulation tissue formation and the growth of new epithelium, but does not promote dermal contraction. Application of aFGF to linear incisions in rat skin produces a transient increase in wound tensile strength accompanied by enhanced cellularity and deposition of collagen. Therefore, aFGF functions as a pharmacological agent that can accelerate dermal wound healing in rodents and could act therapeutically to promote dermal tissue repair in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07065.
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Mellin
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mennie
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Cashen
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ronan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Capparella
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Disalvo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Linemeyer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gimenez-Gallego
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005813:Genes, Synthetic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1