The safety and efficacy of recombinant fibroblast growth factor 2 in human asthmatics: A pilot study

PURPOSE: Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) has been shown to inhibit airway inflammation, mucus production, and airway hyperresponsiveness in mouse model of asthma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of inhaled recombinant FGF2 in asthmatic patients. METHODS: Eight asthmatics were eligible for the study. All patients were admitted to a hospital, and recombinant FGF2 was administered using a nebulizer at a concentration of 4.5 ng/mL three times a day for one week. Pulmonary function test, methacholine bronchial provocation test, induced sputum analysis, asthma control test (ACT), and asthma quality of life questionnaire (AQLQ) were performed at the beginning of wash-out period, before and after the treatment, and at the end of study. And all these parameters were compared before and after FGF2 treatment. RESULTS: There were no serious adverse events associated with recombinant FGF2 during five-week study period. Daytime and nocturnal symptoms improved after the treatment (P=0.028 and P=0.012, respectively). AQLQ and ACT also improved after the treatment (P=0.017 and P=0.011, respectively). However, lung function, airway hyperresponsiveness, and airway inflammation showed no significant difference before and after the treatment. CONCLUSION: Inhaled recombinant FGF2 was safely used to eight asthmatics without any serious adverse events, and improved daytime and nocturnal symptoms, and quality of life in adult asthmatics. FGF2 may be a potential drug in the treatment of asthma.

ERRATUM: Author's Name Correction. The safety and efficacy of recombinant fibroblast growth factor 2 in human asthmatics: A pilot study

The fourth author's name was misprinted.

In Vivo Study of the Chitosan-Cross-Linked Collagen-Glycosaminoglycan Dermal Substrate

The treatment for full thickness skin defect with the full or split-thickness autograft was often associated with aesthetically poor result, hypertrophic scar or extensive injury on donor site. Because of this donor morbidity, the use of artificial dermis was considered, which was the substrate of collagen or collagen cross-linked with polyglactin or polylactin. Unfortunately this substrate was void of advantages for the artificial dermis but was of easy biodegradability, antigenicity, or cytotoxic property. Currently chitosan is given attention by many investigators for its biochemical properties in wound healing process. Chitosan is the deacetylated derivative of chitin, which is a polymer of 2-amino-2-deoxy glucose with chemically active free amino group. Chitosan facilitates wound healing process, and then stimulates migration of polymorphonuclear cell(PMN) and macrophage, release of IL-8 and accelerates collagen synthesis surely with vascularization. Indeed chitosan supplies the resistance against bacterial infection of the wound. In this study, we have investigated the clinical applicability of the artificial dermal substrate which is cross-linked of collagen and GAG with chitosan, which we have applied on the full thickness skin defect in Fisher rat. The conclusions are as the follows: 1. There was sufficient vascularization in the grafted dermal substrate for STSG after 2 weeks of artificial dermis grafting. 2. Four 4 weeks after artificial dermis grafting, the architecture of the dermal substrate was maintained in about half amounts and the half of dermal skeleton was replaced with the newly formed dermis(neodermis). In conclusion, the dermal substrate used in this study is available enough for wound of full thickness skin defect.