Abstract
BackgroundCollagen is the most abundant structural protein in the mammalian connective tissue and represents approximately 30% of animal protein. The current study evaluated the potential capacity of collagen extract derived from Nile tilapia skin in improving the cutaneous wound healing in rats and investigated the underlying possible mechanisms. A rat model was used, and the experimental design included a control group (CG) and the tilapia collagen treated group (TCG). Full-thickness wounds were conducted on the back of all the rats under general anesthesia, then the tilapia collagen extract was applied topically on the wound area of TCG. Wound areas of the two experimental groups were measured on days 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 post-wounding. The stages of the wound granulation tissues were detected by histopathologic examination and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor (TGF-ß1) were investigated using immunohistochemistry. Moreover, relative gene expression analysis of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß1), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were quantified by real-time qPCR.ResultsThe histopathological assessment showed noticeable signs of skin healing in TCG compared to CG. Immunohistochemistry results revealed remarkable enhancement in the expression levels of VEGF and TGF-β1 in TCG. Furthermore, TCG exhibited marked upregulation in the VEGF, bFGF, and α-SMA genes expression. These findings suggested that the topical application of Nile tilapia collagen extract can promote the cutaneous wound healing process in rats, which could be attributed to its stimulating effect on recruiting and activating macrophages to produce chemotactic growth factors, fibroblast proliferation, and angiogenesis.ConclusionsThe collagen extract could, therefore, be a potential biomaterial for cutaneous wound healing therapeutics.
Highlights
Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in the mammalian connective tissue and represents approximately 30% of animal protein
Inflammatory cells are recruited to protect the wound from infection. Besides their crucial role in protecting the wound, the inflammatory cells along with epidermal and dermal cells produce some mediators. These mediators function by regulating and stimulating growth and migration of smooth muscle cells, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts within the wound area, which plays an essential role in the wound healing process [2]
The contraction of the wound area in Tilapia collagen treated group (TCG) was significantly promoted compared to the control group (CG)
Summary
Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in the mammalian connective tissue and represents approximately 30% of animal protein. The stages of the wound granulation tissues were detected by histopathologic examination and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor (TGF-ß1) were investigated using immunohistochemistry. Wound healing is a multi-process including 4 interdependently definite stages; hemostasis, inflammatory response, tissue proliferation, and remodeling [1]. Inflammatory cells (microphages, lymphocytes, and macrophages) are recruited to protect the wound from infection Besides their crucial role in protecting the wound, the inflammatory cells along with epidermal and dermal cells produce some mediators. These mediators function by regulating and stimulating growth and migration of smooth muscle cells, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts within the wound area, which plays an essential role in the wound healing process [2]
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