Neural Regeneration Research (Jan 2016)

Substance P combined with epidermal stem cells promotes wound healing and nerve regeneration in diabetes mellitus

  • Fei-bin Zhu,
  • Xiang-jing Fang,
  • De-wu Liu,
  • Ying Shao,
  • Hong-yan Zhang,
  • Yan Peng,
  • Qing-ling Zhong,
  • Yong-tie Li,
  • De-ming Liu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/1673-5374.179073
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 3
pp. 493 – 501

Abstract

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Exogenous substance P accelerates wound healing in diabetes, but the mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we established a rat model by intraperitoneally injecting streptozotocin. Four wounds (1.8 cm diameter) were drilled using a self-made punch onto the back, bilateral to the vertebral column, and then treated using amniotic membrane with epidermal stem cells and/or substance P around and in the middle of the wounds. With the combined treatment the wound-healing rate was 100% at 14 days. With prolonged time, type I collagen content gradually increased, yet type III collagen content gradually diminished. Abundant protein gene product 9.5- and substance P-immunoreactive nerve fibers regenerated. Partial nerve fiber endings extended to the epidermis. The therapeutic effects of combined substance P and epidermal stem cells were better than with amniotic membrane and either factor alone. Our results suggest that the combination of substance P and epidermal stem cells effectively contributes to nerve regeneration and wound healing in diabetic rats.

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