Correlation of transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor with proliferating cell nuclear antigen in human burn wounds.
The purpose of this study was to localize transforming growth factor-alpha, a mitogenic peptide, and its receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, to correlate these findings with epithelial cell proliferation in human burn wounds. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen, a marker of cellular proliferative activity, was used in conjunction with the immunolocalization of transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor in a series of partial- and full-thickness burn wounds 2 to 22 days after injury. Identification of the proliferating population by proliferating cell nuclear antigen nuclear labelling indicated that both ligand and its receptor are concurrently present in proliferating epidermis. The simultaneous, intense localization of transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor during the early, intermediate, and late postburn period lends further support to an epidermal growth factor/transforming growth factor-alpha/epidermal growth factor receptor-mediated growth repair mechanism. Furthermore, the distribution of transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor in nonproliferating populations within healing burn wounds suggests additional multifunctional roles for this growth factor pathway during human cutaneous wound repair.
Wenczak
B
B
Department of Plastic Surgery, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
Nanney
L B
LB