Abstract
Lectins are a structurally heterogeneous group of highly specific carbohydrate-binding proteins. Due to their great biotechnological potential, lectins are widely used in biomedical research. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the healing potential of the lectin of Bauhinia variegata (nBVL) and its recombinant isoform (rBVL-1). Following surgical creation of dorsal skin wounds, seven groups of mice were submitted to topical treatment for 12 days with lectin, d-galactose, BSA and saline. The animals were anesthetized and euthanized on POD 2, 7 and 12 in order to evaluate the healing potential of each treatment. The parameters considered included wound size, contraction rate, epithelialization rate and histopathological findings. Wound closure was fastest in animals treated with rBVL-1 (POD 7). nBVL was more effective than the controls. All skin layers were reconstructed and keratin deposition increased. Our findings indicate that the lectin of Bauhinia variegata possesses pro-healing properties and may be employed in the treatment of acute skin wounds.
Highlights
Skin wounds are the result of disruption of tissue integrity [1]
On postoperative day (POD) 9, scar tissue was observed in more animals in the rBVL-1 group than in the nBVL group
Total wound closure was observed in the animals treated with nBVL only on POD 12 (Figures 1A–C)
Summary
Skin wounds are the result of disruption of tissue integrity [1]. Tissue damage initiates a cascade of events including inflammation and tissue formation and reshuffle (granulation tissue), eventually leading to partial or complete reconstruction of the damaged area [2,3]. If a wound is a disruption of anatomical and physiological continuity of an organ or tissue, a scar is an attempt of the body to restore integrity [4]. Skin healing is understood as a dynamic process with a complex cascade of cellular and molecular events involving the extracellular matrix (ECM) and soluble mediators such as cytokines [5]. The repair process starts immediately after injury and includes the following phases: Hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, ECM remodeling and scar formation (maturation) [6]. The ability of natural products to speed up the healing process with minimal pain and scar tissue formation has been extensively investigated for decades [8]
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