Effects of ultra high molecular weight poly-gamma-glutamic acid from Bacillus subtilis (chungkookjang) on corneal wound healing.
Poly-gamma-glutamic acid (gamma-PGA) is a natural, edible polypeptide in which glutamate is polymerized via gamma-amide linkages. First, we assessed the eye irritancy potential of gamma PGA in rabbits. Additionally, we studied the effects of gamma-PGA on corneal wound healing, due to the anti inflammatory properties and water retaining abilities of gamma-PGA. In this study, the effects of gamma-PGA on corneal wound healing after an alkali burn were evaluated. Thirty eyes wounded by alkali burning in 30 white rabbits were divided into three groups: group A was treated with 0.1% 5000 kDa gamma-PGA for 2 days, group B was treated with 0.1% hyaluronic acid, and group C was not treated, as a control. The area of corneal epithelial defect was examined at 12, 24, 30, 36, 42, and 48 h after corneal alkali wounding to determine initial wound healing. We found that gamma-PGA promoted corneal wound healing, compared with controls, and showed similar effects to hyaluronic acid. These results indicate that gamma-PGA stimulates corneal wound healing by an anti inflammatory effect and enhancing cell migration and cell proliferation. gamma-PGA is a promising biomaterial that may be a substitute for hyaluronic acid in corneal wound healing treatment.
Bae
Sun-Ryang
SR
College of Medicine, Catholic University, Seoul 150-101, Korea.
Park
Chung
C
Choi
Jae-Chul
JC
Poo
Haryoung
H
Kim
Chul-Joong
CJ
Sung
Moon-Hee
MH
D000818:Animals; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000737:chemistry*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000293:injuries; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011817:Rabbits; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
C511775:poly(gamma-glutamic acid); D011099:Polyglutamic Acid