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Keratinocyte migration is essential for wound repair. Keratin-based products have recently shown stimulatory effects on wound repair. This study was to test the cellular response to wool-derived oxidized keratin in wound healing to further understand the biological mechanisms underlying observed clinical benefits of keratin-based products as wound treatments. In vitro scratch migration assays examined the effects of oxidized keratin on the migration of human skin keratinocytes. Western blotting analysis determined the effects on the marker protein expression of type IV and type VII collagens and keratin 17. We found wool-derived oxidized keratin promoted keratinocyte migration and induced protein expression of type IV and type VII collagens, but not keratin 17. The data suggest that the beneficial effects of keratin-based treatment in wounds may be related to its positive effects on re-epithelialization via stimulating keratinocyte migration and production of basement membrane proteins of types IV and VII collagens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Oxygen is an essential substance for wound healing. Limited studies have shown that topical oxygen can influence healing. This study evaluated the effects of a Topical Oxygen Emulsion (TOE) on burn wound healing. Methods A porcine second-degree burn wound model was used in the study. Burn wounds were randomly assigned to TOE, vehicle control, and no-treatment (air) groups. Effects of TOE on the granulation tissue formation and angiogenesis were studied using hematoxylin and eosin histological analysis. Protein production and gene expression of types I and III collagen and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined using immunofluorescent staining and Reverse Transcription and Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. Results The TOE treated wounds exhibited better angiogenesis and granulation tissue formation by histology examination. The immunofluorescence staining and RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that protein production and mRNA expression of VEGF and collagen III were significantly higher in TOE treatment group than vehicle alone and air control groups, while there was no significant difference in the level of collagen I. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that TOE enhances burn wound healing via stimulating the expression of VEGF and type III collagen and strongly indicates the potential use of TOE in wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]