Lung
surfactants are used for reducing alveolar surface tension in preterm infants to ease breathing.
Phospholipid films with
surfactant proteins regulate the activity of alveolar macrophages and reduce
inflammation. Aberrant skin wound healing is characterized by persistent
inflammation. The aim of the study was to investigate if lung
surfactant can promote wound healing. Preclinical
wound models, e.g. cell scratch assays and full-thickness excisional
wounds in mice, and a randomized, phase I clinical trial in healthy human volunteers using a suction
blister model were used to study the effect of the commercially available
bovine lung surfactant on skin
wound repair. Lung
surfactant increased migration of keratinocytes in a concentration-dependent manner with no effect on fibroblasts. Significantly reduced expression levels were found for pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic genes in murine
wounds. Because of these beneficial effects in preclinical experiments, a clinical phase I study was initiated to monitor safety and tolerability of
surfactant when applied topically onto human
wounds and normal skin. No adverse effects were observed. Subepidermal
wounds healed significantly faster with
surfactant compared to control. Our study provides lung
surfactant as a strong candidate for innovative treatment of chronic skin
wounds and as additive for treatment of
burn wounds to reduce
inflammation and prevent excessive
scarring.