Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2016, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (11): 1538-1543.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2016.11.003

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Substance P effects on aggregation and differentiation control of epidermal stem cells and skin wound repair

Peng Xi-liang, Zhang Yu-hong, Ni Wen-qiong   

  1. Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450007, Henan Province, China
  • Received:2016-01-26 Online:2016-03-11 Published:2016-03-11
  • About author:Peng Xi-liang, Associate chief physician, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450007, Henan Province, China
  • Supported by:

    the Scientific Research Project of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Henan Province, No. 2014ZY02082

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Epidermal stem cells are the source of cells for repairing the skin and its appendages. To study differentiation and migration of epidermal stem cells is crucial for perfect healing.
Objective: To investigate the effects of substance P in skin wound repair.
METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats were randomized into groups of substance P, capsaicin and control (n=10 per group). After the establishment of skin defect models, exogenous neuropeptide substance P, capsaicin, and normal saline were daily injected at the wound for continuous 5 days. Skin thickness, skin wound area, BrdU-positive cells were detected in the three groups at different time after injection.
Results and conclusions: No difference n the skin thickness was found in the three groups at 14 days after injection (P > 0.05), but with time, the epidermal thickness was reduced. At 42 days, the epidermal thickness was reduced remarkably in the substance P group and decreased certainly in the capsaicin group, but unchanged in the control group. The wound area of the substance P group was significantly lower than that in the control and capsaicin groups at 3, 5, 7 days after injection (P < 0.05), but there was no difference between the control and capsaicin group (P > 0.05). The BrdU positive rates in the three groups were significantly different at 3, 5, 7, 12 days after injection: the substance P group > the control group > the capsaicin group (P < 0.05). These results show that substance P can promote epidermal cell proliferation and accelerate wound healing.