title: Wound-healing markers after autologous and allogeneic epithelial-like stem cell treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several cytokines and growth factors play an essential role in skin regeneration and epithelial-like stem cells (EpSCs) have beneficial effects on wound healing in horses. However, there are no reports available on the expression of these growth factors and cytokines after EpSC therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wounds of 6 cm(2) were induced in the gluteus region of 6 horses and treated with (i) autologous EpSCs, (ii) allogeneic EpSCs, (iii) vehicle treatment or (iv) untreated control. Real time polymerase chain reaction was performed on tissue biopsies taken 1 and 5 weeks after these treatments to evaluate mRNA expression of interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-6, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and epidermal keratin (eKER).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One week after treatments, mRNA levels of IL-6 (P = 0.012) and VEGF (P = 0.008) were higher in allogeneic EpSC-treated wounds compared with controls. Also, mRNA levels of IGF-1 were higher at 1 week in both autologous (P = 0.027) and allogeneic (P = 0.035) EpSC-treated wounds. At week 5, all EpSC- and vehicle-treated wounds demonstrated significantly higher IFN-γ, VEGF and eKER mRNA expression compared with controls and compared with their respective levels at week 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Equine wounds treated with allogeneic EpSCs demonstrate a significant increase in mRNA expression of IL-6, VEGF and IGF-1 in the acute phase. In the longer term, an increase in IFN-γ, VEGF and eKER mRNA was detected in the wounds treated with allogenic EpSCs, autologous EpSCs or their vehicle.
authors.affiliation: Global Stem cell Technology, ANACURA group, Evergem, Belgium; Pell Cell Medicals, ANACURA group, Evergem, Belgium. Electronic address: Jan.spaas@anacura.com.
authors.forename: Jan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Spaas
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gomiero
authors.affiliation: Global Stem cell Technology, ANACURA group, Evergem, Belgium; Pell Cell Medicals, ANACURA group, Evergem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sarah Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Broeckx
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lore
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Hecke
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maccatrozzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martinello
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Italy. Electronic address: marco.pat@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patruno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D006736:Horses; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012038:Regeneration / Q000235:genetics; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
keywords: allogeneic; autologous; cytokines; growth factors; horse; skin; stem cells