The effect of various concentrations of human recombinant epidermal growth factor on split-thickness skin wounds

Int Wound J. 2006 Jun;3(2):123-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-4801.2006.00187.x.

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent stimulant of epithelialisation. However, topical application of EGF to achieve facilitated re-epithelialisation in partial thickness wounds has been controversial. A total of 10 pigs, each with eight 4 x 4 cm partial thickness wounds, were treated twice a day for 10 days to observe the effect of human recombinant EGF in concentrations of 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 25 ug/g, vehicle only and two controls. The control and the vehicle-only wounds each demonstrated 100% healing time (HT100) of 9.31 +/- 1.34 and 8.5 +/- 1.12 while the wounds treated with EGF ointment with concentrations of 0.1 (HT100 = 6.4 +/- 0.71), 1 (HT100 = 5.2 +/- 0.63), 5 (HT100 = 5.8 +/- 0.85), 10 (HT100 = 7.1 +/- 1.45) and 25 ug/g (HT100 = 7.4 + 0.57) demonstrated significant reduction in time to achieve re-epithelialisation. Among the EGF-treated wounds, the wounds treated with EGF concentrations of 1 and 5 ug/g achieved the fastest re-epithelialisation with evidence of substantial increase in basal keratinocyte activity observed through Ki-67 activity. In conclusion, this article demonstrates the efficacy of human recombinant EGF in facilitating re-epithelialisation of partial thickness wounds with the most efficient healing found in EGF concentrations of 1 and 5 ug/g.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Topical
  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Skin / drug effects
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin Diseases / pathology
  • Skin Diseases / therapy*
  • Swine
  • Wound Healing / drug effects*
  • Wounds and Injuries / pathology
  • Wounds and Injuries / therapy

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Epidermal Growth Factor