Topical Dihydroartemisinin Improves Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice

This study sought to determine how topical DHA affects the healing of diabetic wounds and how it is related to markers of angiogenesis. We topically applied DHA to full-thickness cutaneous lesions in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mouse model. Under a fluorescence microscope, the pathological morphology of the wound skin was observed, together with the positive expression of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Western blotting was used to determine the CD31 and VEGF protein expression levels. The mRNA expression was determined using qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We found that DHA can improve the expression of CD31 and VEGF, and accelerate wound healing in diabetic mice. We believe that DHA promotes angiogenesis, which is associated with increased VEGF signalling in vivo. Therefore, DHA can effectively accelerate the process of diabetic wound healing by promoting angiogenesis, implying that DHA may be used as a topical drug for the treatment of diabetic wounds.PMID:37314293 | DOI:10.2340/jphs.v58.5775
Source: Journal of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery - Category: Surgery Authors: Source Type: research