The effect of various concentrations of human recombinant epidermal growth factor on split-thickness skin wounds.

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent stimulant of epithelialisation. However, topical application of EGF to achieve facilitated re-epithelialisation in partial thickness wounds has been controversial. A total of 10 pigs, each with eight 4 x 4 cm partial thickness wounds, were treated twice a day for 10 days to observe the effect of human recombinant EGF in concentrations of 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 25 ug/g, vehicle only and two controls. The control and the vehicle-only wounds each demonstrated 100% healing time (HT100) of 9.31 +/- 1.34 and 8.5 +/- 1.12 while the wounds treated with EGF ointment with concentrations of 0.1 (HT100 = 6.4 +/- 0.71), 1 (HT100 = 5.2 +/- 0.63), 5 (HT100 = 5.8 +/- 0.85), 10 (HT100 = 7.1 +/- 1.45) and 25 ug/g (HT100 = 7.4 + 0.57) demonstrated significant reduction in time to achieve re-epithelialisation. Among the EGF-treated wounds, the wounds treated with EGF concentrations of 1 and 5 ug/g achieved the fastest re-epithelialisation with evidence of substantial increase in basal keratinocyte activity observed through Ki-67 activity. In conclusion, this article demonstrates the efficacy of human recombinant EGF in facilitating re-epithelialisation of partial thickness wounds with the most efficient healing found in EGF concentrations of 1 and 5 ug/g.

• Authors: Joon Pio Hong, Yun Wha Kim, Heun Don Jung, Kwon Il Jung
• Journal: International wound journal (Int Wound J) Vol. 3 Issue 2 Pg. 123-30 (Jun 2006) ISSN: 1742-4801 [Print] England
• PMID: 17007342 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Recombinant Proteins
• Epidermal Growth Factor

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Animals
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Epidermal Growth Factor (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Recombinant Proteins (therapeutic use)
• Skin (drug effects, pathology)
• Skin Diseases (pathology, therapy)
• Swine
• Wound Healing (drug effects)
• Wounds and Injuries (pathology, therapy)