Role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signal pathway in platelet-derived growth factor promoting the healing of cutaneous full-thickness incisional wounds in diabetic rats / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the possible signal transduction pathway during the course of recombinant human platelet derived growth factor (rhPDGF) promoting cutaneous incisional wound healing in diabetic rats. Methods Four full thickness skin wounds were incised in the back of 26 Wistar rats with diabetes mellitus that were randomly divided into two groups, Group A (diabetic rats control) and Group B (treated with rhPDGF at 7.0 ?g/cm2 wound). The granulation, collagen sedimentation, the reepithelialization rate of rhPDGF as well as the inflammatory cell filtration were observed 3,7 and 14 days after wound. Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the expression of ERKs either around the wound and in the wound center and immunohistochemical method applied to observe the changes of c-fos, proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Results The histological investigation showed a lot of granule tissues in the bed of wound, a large of inflammatory cells infiltration and collagen deposition, active growth of granule tissues and significant wound contraction. The number of blood capillary buds and fibroblasts in the Group B were more than that in the Group A. The immunohistochemistry showed that the expressions of ERK1 and c-fos increased significantly three days, strengthened seven days and went weak 14 days after rhPDGF application. In the Group B, at every time point, the expressions of PCNA and FAK were more significant than those in the Group A. Conclusions ERK1/2 signal pathway exerts function in rhPDGF accelerating wound healing of rats with diabetes mellitus and plays an important role in proliferation and migration of reparative cells.