The effect of Decorin, TGF-beta antagonist, on wound healing in rabbits

ABSTRACT

There have been many trials to decrease the scar formation followed by wound treatment. TGF-beta plays a important role on wound healing in adult. Therefore the repression of TGF-beta expression will be helpful to decrease scar formation. Decorin is known to competitively inhibit TGF-beta expression. Decorin were subcutaneously administered in surgical wounds in rabbits to investgate the preventing effect of scar formation for clinical application. Histologic findings of wound healing progresses is similar with control and experimental group at 2week. 2.5 microgram decorin of administrated group was similar to those of control group at 4 and 8week. In wound healing process 10 microgram decorin of administrated groupsat showed that thickness of immature collagen fibers(scar) was decreased as compared with control group at 4, 8 weeks. 20 microgram decorin of administrated group showed similar histologic features to 10 microgram administrated group. The wounds of 8week experimental group(10, 20 microgram) were completely recovered to the normal surrounding skin tissue including sweat gland and hair follicle. These results suggested that decorin can be of help to the prevention of local scar formation.