Mealworm Oil (MWO) Enhances Wound Healing Potential through the Activation of Fibroblast and Endothelial Cells
Joung-Hee Kim,
Eun-Yeong Kim,
Kyu Jin Chung,
Jung-Hee Lee,
Hee-Jung Choi,
Tae-Wook Chung,
Keuk-Jun Kim
Affiliations
Joung-Hee Kim
Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, TaeKyeung University, 65, Danbuk 1-gil, Jain-myeon, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 38547, Korea
Eun-Yeong Kim
APROGEN, Inc., 545, Dunchon-daero, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13215, Korea
Kyu Jin Chung
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, 170, Hyeonchung-ro, Nam-gu, Daegu 42415, Korea
Jung-Hee Lee
JIN BioCell Co., Ltd., #118-119, National Clinical Research Center for Korean Medicine, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital, 20 Geumo-ro, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612, Korea
Hee-Jung Choi
JIN BioCell Co., Ltd., #118-119, National Clinical Research Center for Korean Medicine, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital, 20 Geumo-ro, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612, Korea
Tae-Wook Chung
Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, TaeKyeung University, 65, Danbuk 1-gil, Jain-myeon, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 38547, Korea
Keuk-Jun Kim
Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, TaeKyeung University, 65, Danbuk 1-gil, Jain-myeon, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 38547, Korea
Mealworm and mealworm oil (MWO) have been reported to affect antioxidant, anti-coagulation, anti-adipogenic and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the function of MWO in wound healing is still unclear. In this study, we found that MWO induced the migration of fibroblast cells and mRNA expressions of wound healing factors such as alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen-1 (COL-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in fibroblast cells. The tube formation and migration of endothelial cells were promoted through the activation of VEGF/VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2)-mediated downstream signals including AKT, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 by MWO-stimulated fibroblasts for angiogenesis. Moreover, we confirmed that MWO promoted skin wound repair by collagen synthesis, re-epithelialization and angiogenesis in an in vivo excisional wound model. These results demonstrate that MWO might have potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of skin wounds.
