title: L-Tryptophan as a Novel Potential Pharmacological Treatment for Wound Healing via Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Activation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aryl hydrocarbon receptor has been shown to be involved in wound healing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the effect of tryptophan on wound healing in vitro and in a clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ability of tryptophan and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) to increase wound healing was assessed in an in vitro scratch wound model in human keratinocytes. Topical tryptophan and vehicle were assessed for 12 weeks in 51 patients with lower limb ulcers that were resistant to conventional therapies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TCDD 0.1 nM and tryptophan 1 µM increased the rate of scratch recovery in a culture model. Topical tryptophan induced stronger pain relief and faster re-epithelialization than its vehicle in patients with lower limb ulcers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tryptophan shows promising potential as a novel topical treatment for wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barouti
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mainetti
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fontao
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sorg
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D062326:Re-Epithelialization / Q000187:drug effects*; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C111855:6-formylindolo(3,2-b)carbazole; D002227:Carbazoles; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D014364:Tryptophan; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1