title: Effect of occlusion on cell proliferation during epidermal healing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occlusive dressings influence epithelization of superficial wounds by some unknown mechanism(s).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The effects of occlusion on epidermal cell proliferation in two types of wounds were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Partial-thickness wounds and tape-stripped skin wounds were compared. An immunohistochemical technique, employing PC10 - a monoclonal antibody against proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) - was applied to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded porcine tissue sections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of PC10-positive cells was low during the migratory phase, then increased to a peak of proliferation 2 to 3 days after resurfacing. An overall increased proliferative response (mean = 21%) was seen in occluded compared to control partial-thickness wounds (day 10 postoperatively); an opposite effect of occlusion on epidermal proliferation was seen in tape-stripped skin. Occlusion decreased the proliferative response (mean = 42%) compared to air-exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Occlusion increased epidermal cell proliferation in wounds (where the entire surface epithelium and papillary dermis was removed), whereas an opposite effect was seen in tape-stripped skin from which only the stratum corneum had been removed.
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Agren
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mertz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002455:Cell Division; D004817:Epidermis / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D011140:Polyurethanes; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D013552:Swine; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011140:Polyurethanes; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen