The effect of topical tripeptide-copper complex on healing of ischemic open wounds.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of topical glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine tripeptide-copper complex (TCC; Iamin 2% Gel; Procyte Corporation, Redmond, WA) on healing in ischemic open wounds.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats.


METHODS
Rats were divided into 3 groups: topical TCC, topical TCC vehicle (hydroxypropyl-methylcellulose), and no treatment (control). Six-mm-diameter, full-thickness wounds were created within an ischemic bipedicle skin flap on the dorsum of each rat. Each day, for 13 days, wound margins were traced, and the TCC and TCC vehicle groups were treated topically. Tracings were scanned, and wound perimeter and area were calculated. On days 6, 10, and 13, selected wounds were biopsied and analyzed for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2 and 9.


RESULTS
A significant decrease in wound area was seen in the TCC group, but not the vehicle group, when compared with the control group on days 3 to 5, 6 to 9, and 11 to 13 and when TCC was compared with TCC vehicle on days 3 and 9. On day 13, initial wound area had decreased by 64.5% in the TCC group, 45.6% in the vehicle group, and 28.2% in the control group. On days 6, 10, and 13, TCC-treated wounds contained significantly lower concentrations of TNF-alpha and MMP-2 and MMP-9 than control wounds.


CONCLUSIONS
Topical TCC resulted in accelerated wound healing in ischemic open wounds.


CONCLUSIONS
Topical TCC is an effective stimulant of healing of ischemic open wounds in rats and may have an application for the treatment of chronic wounds in other species. Clinical evaluation of topical TCC is warranted.
Canapp
Sherman O
SO
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, and the School of Medicine Institute for Wound Research, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Farese
James P
JP
Schultz
Gregory S
GS
Gowda
Santosh
S
Ishak
Anthony M
AM
Swaim
Steven F
SF
Vangilder
James
J
Lee-Ambrose
Linda
L
Martin
Frank G
FG
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives; D007511:Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis; D008747:Methylcellulose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D006490:Hemostatics; D009842:Oligopeptides; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives; C020905:glycyl-histidyl-lysine; D008747:Methylcellulose; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9