title: Matrix therapy with RGTA OTR4120 improves healing time and quality in hairless rats with deep second-degree burns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  ReGeneraTing Agents (RGTAs) are biodegradable polymers engineered to mimic heparan-sulfate in the extracellular matrix of damaged tissue. RGTAs improve tissue healing in several animal models by stabilizing and protecting heparin-binding growth factors and matrix proteins. RGTA restores the normal matrix architecture and supports tissue regeneration. In this study, the authors evaluated the effects of RGTA on epidermal repair and dermal remodeling in a rat burn model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Deep second-degree burns were induced in 156 hairless rats, of which half (n = 78) received topical and intramuscular RGTA immediately after the burn followed by intramuscular RGTA weekly for 1 month. The controls (n = 78) received saline according to the same protocol. Rats were killed starting on each day of the first week and on days 14, 28, 60, 120, 240, and 365. The burns were evaluated by photography, histology, and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Coagulation necrosis involved the entire epidermis and superficial adnexa. Compared with the controls, speed of epidermal repair, as assessed between days 3 and 7 based on cell-layer number and anticytokeratin-14 staining, was faster in the RGTA group; and the zone of stasis, as assessed based on secondary vascular lesions in the dermis, was smaller. On day 7, reepithelialization was complete in both groups. On days 14 and 28, the remodeled dermal zone was smaller in the RGTA group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RGTA accelerated epidermal repair and protected the dermis from secondary effects of heat as quantified by zone-of-stasis size and extent of dermal remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Tours, Créteil, and Paris, France From the Plastic, Reconstructive, and Cosmetic Surgery and Burn Center, Trousseau Hospital, CHRU de Tours; Laboratory CRRET, UMR CNRS 7149, Paris 12 University; OTR3 SAS; the Department of Pathology, Rothschild Hospital; and the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Broussais Hospital and Georges Pompidou Hospital.
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zakine
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barbier
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garcia-Filipe
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luboinski
authors.forename: Dulce
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papy-Garcia
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chachques
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carpentier
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barritault
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015603:Keratinocytes; D009336:Necrosis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans; C533322:OTR4120