The effect of various concentrations of human recombinant epidermal growth factor on split-thickness skin wounds.
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent stimulant of epithelialisation. However, topical application of EGF to achieve facilitated re-epithelialisation in partial thickness wounds has been controversial. A total of 10 pigs, each with eight 4 x 4 cm partial thickness wounds, were treated twice a day for 10 days to observe the effect of human recombinant EGF in concentrations of 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 25 ug/g, vehicle only and two controls. The control and the vehicle-only wounds each demonstrated 100% healing time (HT100) of 9.31 +/- 1.34 and 8.5 +/- 1.12 while the wounds treated with EGF ointment with concentrations of 0.1 (HT100 = 6.4 +/- 0.71), 1 (HT100 = 5.2 +/- 0.63), 5 (HT100 = 5.8 +/- 0.85), 10 (HT100 = 7.1 +/- 1.45) and 25 ug/g (HT100 = 7.4 + 0.57) demonstrated significant reduction in time to achieve re-epithelialisation. Among the EGF-treated wounds, the wounds treated with EGF concentrations of 1 and 5 ug/g achieved the fastest re-epithelialisation with evidence of substantial increase in basal keratinocyte activity observed through Ki-67 activity. In conclusion, this article demonstrates the efficacy of human recombinant EGF in facilitating re-epithelialisation of partial thickness wounds with the most efficient healing found in EGF concentrations of 1 and 5 ug/g.
Hong
Joon Pio
JP
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. joonphong@amc.seoul.kr
Kim
Yun Wha
YW
Jung
Heun Don
HD
Jung
Kwon Il
KI
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013552:Swine; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor