Batroxobin promotes wound healing after burn injury by enhancing blood flow.

Abstract

Background: In the process of burn wound healing, promoting healing and suppressing wound progression by enhancing blood flow is considered essential. Various agents that increase blood flow are currently being assessed. Batroxobin (DF-521; Defibrase®) is a denitrogenating agent extracted from Bothrops moojeni, used as a thrombin-like serine protease to improve ischemic conditions. However, it remains unclear how this agent affects the burn wound healing process. In this study, we conducted analyses to define the effects of batroxobin administration on burn wound healing.

Methods: Full-thickness burn wounds were created on the dorsal skin of C57BL/6 mice by applying a 90℃, 5-mm-diameter soldering iron for 10 s. Immediately after wounding, batroxobin (30 batroxobin units/kg/mouse) was administered intraperitoneally daily. As a vehicle control, the same volume of saline was administered. We analyzed wound area, histological findings, blood flow, growth factor and chemokine synthesis, and ischemia-reperfusion related factor expression.

Results: We found that the systemic administration of batroxobin prevented burn wound progression, which was accompanied by decreased expression of TNF-α and NOX2 and reduced synthesis of Hif-1α. In addition, this agent promoted wound healing by enhancing blood flow, increasing S100A4-positive fibroblast accumulation, and stimulating the production of growth factors (bFGF, EGF, and PlGF).

Conclusions: These results indicate that the systemic administration of batroxobin prevented burn wound progression and accelerated the healing process by enhancing blood flow. (Word count: 222).