Discovery of a novel short peptide with efficacy in accelerating the healing of skin wounds

Pharmacol Res. 2021 Jan:163:105296. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105296. Epub 2020 Nov 19.

Abstract

Despite extensive efforts to develop efficacious therapeutic approaches, the treatment of skin wounds remains a considerable clinical challenge. Existing remedies cannot sufficiently meet current needs, so the discovery of novel pro-healing agents is of growing importance. In the current research, we identified a novel short peptide (named RL-QN15, primary sequence 'QNSYADLWCQFHYMC') from Rana limnocharis skin secretions, which accelerated wound healing in mice. Exploration of the underlying mechanisms showed that RL-QN15 activated the MAPK and Smad signaling pathways, and selectively modulated the secretion of cytokines from macrophages. This resulted in the proliferation and migration of skin cells and dynamic regulation of TGF-β1 and TGF-β3 in wounds, which accelerated re-epithelialization and granulation tissue formation and thus skin regeneration. Moreover, RL-QN15 showed significant therapeutic potency against chronic wounds, skin fibrosis, and oral ulcers. Our results highlight frog skin secretions as a potential treasure trove of bioactive peptides with healing activity. The novel peptide (RL-QN15) identified in this research shows considerable capacity as a candidate for the development of novel pro-healing agents.

Keywords: Acetic acid: (PubChem CID: 176); Amphibian; Bleomycin: (PubChem CID: 5360373); Exendin-4 (PubChem CID: 45588096); Lipopolysaccharide (PubChem CID: 75107052); Pentobarbital sodium: (PubChem CID: 23676152); Peptide; Pro-Healing agents; RL-QN15; Streptozotocin (PubChem CID: 29327); Wound healing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fibrosis
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Oral Ulcer / drug therapy*
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Peptides / therapeutic use*
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Ranidae
  • Skin / drug effects*
  • Skin / injuries
  • Skin / metabolism
  • Skin / pathology
  • Smad Proteins / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta3 / metabolism
  • Wound Healing / drug effects*

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Smad Proteins
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta3
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases