Effect of a collagen matrix containing epidermal growth factor on wound contraction.
Excessive wound contraction is known to lead to pathological wound contracture. Using a rabbit model, we applied a bovine type I collagen matrix sponge as a dermal substitute and human epidermal growth factor to full-thickness excisional wounds. Wound contraction was assessed 14 and 28 days after wounding. It was found that both collagen matrix and epidermal growth factor significantly inhibited wound contraction (p < 0.001) in all wounds treated with collagen matrix alone or treated with 0.1 and 1 microg of epidermal growth factor 28 days after wounding. Interestingly, the combination of collagen matrix with epidermal growth factor strongly inhibited wound contraction over matrix alone (p < 0.01 on day 28). Histological analyses showed a regular horizontal arrangement of collagen fibers in the dermis under wounds treated with these substances but not under untreated wounds. Furthermore, using a fibroblast-populated collagen gel, the direct inhibitory effect of epidermal growth factor on gel contraction by fibroblasts was also observed. Collagen gels without stimulation contracted to 29.5 +/- 0. 6% of their original size, as determined 6 days after culturing. At 3 days or more, epidermal growth factor inhibited collagen gel contraction by fibroblasts (after 6 days: 34.2 +/- 1.8%, p > 0.05; 36.5 +/- 2.8%, p < 0.05; and 39.8 +/- 2.1%, p < 0.001 at 1, 10, and 100 ng/ml of epidermal growth factor, respectively). In conclusion, collagen matrix and epidermal growth factor, particularly in combination, may be useful in the prevention of wound contracture.
Department of Dermatology and the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Dermatology, Fukushima Medical University, School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan.
M
M
Inoue
I
I
Ono
T
T
Tateshita
Y
Y
Kuroyanagi
N
N
Shioya
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003094:Collagen / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D003094:Collagen