The Effect of Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Epidermal Growth Factor and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Expression in Re-epithelialization Process in the Healing of Burns on Experimental Rats

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Research on human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) for burns healing has been known to increase the percentage of integrin expression of α2β1, type I collagen, transforming growth factor-β, and matrix metalloproteinases-9, but research on giving hBM-MSCs to growth factor expression in the process of re-epithelialization of burn healing has not been done.
 AIM: This study aims to the effect of hBM-MSCs given on the expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and EGF receptor (EGFR) in the process re-epithelialization in the healing of burn experimental rat.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research is experimental with the post-test only control design, using 30 Wistar rats. Rats were divided into two groups, namely, control (phosphate-buffered saline), and the treatment was given hBM-MSCs, and stem cells were given subcutaneous doses of 2 × 106 cells/ml. Before being treated rats were anesthetized using xylazine and ketamine then the rats were burned in the dorsal (spine) with full-thickness. On the 3, 7, and 14 days, skin tissue was taken to see the expression of EGF and EGFR by immunohistochemical methods. This study was approved by the Ethics Commission of the Faculty of Medicine, Andalas University, Padang. The results of the study were analyzed by the t-test.
 RESULTS: Immunohistochemical examination of EGF and EGFR expressions after hBM-MSCs administration has significantly increased epithelialization compared with controls. Increased EGF expression was found on days 3 and 7 with moderate positive internal revenue service (IRS) assessment and on day 14 strong positive EGF expression, as well as EGFR expression on days 3 and 7 with moderate positive IRS assessment and on day 14 robust positive EGFR expression.
 CONCLUSION: This study concluded that giving of hBM-MSCs can increase the expression of EGF and EGFR which enhances the process of re-epithelialization thereby accelerating the healing of burns of experimental rats.