Substance P effects on aggregation and differentiation control of epidermal stem cells and skin wound repair / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Epidermal stem cels are the source of cels for repairing the skin and its appendages. To study differentiation and migration of epidermal stem cels is crucial for perfect healing. Objective: To investigate the effects of substance P in skin wound repair. METHODS:Thirty Wistar rats were randomized into groups of substance P, capsaicin and control (n=10 per group). After the establishment of skin defect models, exogenous neuropeptide substance P, capsaicin, and normal saline were daily injected at the wound for continuous 5 days. Skin thickness, skin wound area, BrdU-positive cels were detected in the three groups at different time after injection. Results and conclusions:No difference n the skin thickness was found in the three groups at 14 days after injection (P > 0.05), but with time, the epidermal thickness was reduced. At 42 days, the epidermal thickness was reduced remarkably in the substance P group and decreased certainly in the capsaicin group, but unchanged in the control group. The wound area of the substance P group was significantly lower than that in the control and capsaicin groups at 3, 5, 7 days after injection (P 0.05). The BrdU positive rates in the three groups were significantly different at 3, 5, 7, 12 days after injection the substance P group > the control group > the capsaicin group (P < 0.05). These results show that substance P can promote epidermal cel proliferation and accelerate wound healing.