Effect of Lyophilized Growth Factors (LGF) Derived from Equine Platelets on Experimentally Induced Skin Wound Healing in Mongrel Dogs

Abstract

Lyophilized growth factor (LGF) is a novel advanced platelets rich protein growth factor. It has been successfully applied in various fields of regenerative medicine including management of chronic and non-healing wounds and ulcers. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of subcutaneous infiltration of equine platelets derived lyophilized growth factors on healing of induced full thickness skin wound in dogs. Four healthy mongrel dogs of different ages were used in the current work. Three bilateral critical sized skin wounds were done on the back of each dog. After 24 hours, the right-side wounds were injected in 4 cardinal points around each wound by Saline/lidocaine (control wounds) and simultaneously reconstituted LGF was subcutaneously injected around the left side wounds (LGF treated wounds). Wound contraction was monitored physically and histopathologically. The expression of TGF-β1 and NF-κB was evaluated in wound specimens of both groups. A significant reduction in wound size was recorded in LGF treated group compared to saline treated group. The histopathological scoring of the healing progress revealed significant increase in the degree of re-epithelization bridging the wound edges and collagen deposition in LGF-treated wounds compared to control non-treated wounds along the experimental periods. Additionally, the expression of TGF-β1 and NF-κB showed significant elevation in LGF-treated wounds compared with their expression in control wounds. In conclusion, LGF therapy could be a superior candidate as a regenerative therapy in skin wounds that can positively impact healing process of the cutaneous wounds.