Protein Degradation and Protection Observed in the Presence of Novel Wound Dressing Components

Abstract

Chronic wounds typically have excessive levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and proinflammatory cytokines that impair healing. Reducing these detrimental proteins may be key to healing chronic wounds. Proprietary protease blends were formulated specifically to degrade excessive amounts of proinflammatory factors that could prevent wound healing. Applications of protease-containing wound dressings to acute and chronic wounds have been observed clinically to resolve inflammation and appear to aid healing. The purpose of this study was to test in vitro a deliberate blend of proteases for the ability to deactivate or activate known proteins associated with inflammation or healing. Purified human target proteins were incubated with test and control solutions and samples removed at various time points. Blinded samples were tested using a novel infrared protein multiplex sandwich-ELISA-type array technique. Many proinflammatory proteins such as MMPs, cytokines and chemokines were susceptible to degradation. Many proteins such as growth factors, cytokines and TIMP1 were resistant to degradation. Not all proinflammatory proteins were deactivated. Family protein structure did not appear to affect susceptibility to degradation or deactivation. These results suggest that specific protease containing wound dressings appear to reduce multiple detrimental components which may disrupt their deleterious effects on the wound bed and microenvironment. By improving the wound microenvironment through the use of definitive proteases, these novel wound dressings may help transition wounds into the subsequent phase of healing.

Metaloproteinasas de la matriz extracelular y su participación en el proceso de cicatrización

“…Las células epiteliales regulan la expresión de las MMPs y migran hacia la herida. En esta fase intervienen con mayor frecuencia la MMP-8, requerida para la degradación de colágeno, al igual que las MMPs 1, 3, 9 y 13 33 , permaneciendo las heridas crónicas en esta etapa de cicatrización. Además presentan concentraciones elevadas de MMPs y una pérdida del balance entre la producción y degradación de los componentes de la MEC 34 .…”

Development of Enzyme-Based Cosmeceuticals: Studies on the Proteolytic Activity of Arthrospira platensis and Its Efficient Incorporation in a Hydrogel Formulation

“…The incorporation of cosmetic-oriented proteolytic enzymes is proposed for applications in skin cleansing, hydration and restoration of the skin barrier in conjunction with the improvement of wound inflammation [53][54][55][56]. The use of proteases in skin care products is not intended to disable the pro-inflammatory endogenous proteins but to soften their effects when needed; thus, proteolytic enzymes entail a protective role in the direct or indirect modification of the host's tissues [56,57]. The type and concentration of proteases should be appropriate to attenuate the effects of endogenous proteins produced before the induction of inflammatory phenomena and have negative consequences when they are overactive [56,58].…”

Efficacy of Homologous, Platelet-rich Plasma Dressing in Chronic Non-healing Ulcers: An Observational Study

“…Chronic non-healing ulcers lack the necessary growth factors (GFs) and the levels of proteases are high; hence, they do not heal well [ 2 ]. Wound healing is a complex and dynamic process of cellular, immunological, and hormonal components interacting to result in wound healing [ 3 ]. Most of the ulcers will eventually heal completely with appropriate wound care.…”