RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the expressions of caspase-6,-7 during skin wound healing and the applicability of the time-dependent expressions of caspase-6,-7 to determination of the wound age.Method The expressions of caspase-6,-7 were studied in skin incised wound in mice by immunohistochemical SABC method,and the non-incised mouse skin was used as control.Results Expressions of caspase-6,-7 were detectable in polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) in the wound specimens aged 6h. In the wound specimens aged from 12h to 24h after injury, caspase-6,-7 were identified in a large number of infiltrating PMNs and part of mononuclear cells (MNCs). Afterwards, the MNCs and fibroblastic cells (FBCs) accounted for the most part of the caspase-6,-7-positive cells. Morphometrically, the ratios of the number of the caspase-6,-7-stained PMNs, MNCs and FBCs to total number of the cells in the wounds were evaluated and calculated. The ratios of the caspase-6,-7-positive cells were low in the wound specimens aged from 0h to 3h, and maximized in the wound specimens aged 3 day. Thereafter, the ratios decreased and minimized in the specimens aged 14 day.Conclusion The results suggest that caspase-6,-7 were expressed in neutrophils, macrophages and fibroblasts during healing process of skin incised wound in mice. Caspase-6,-7 may be used as a marker for the wound age determination.