Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2016, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (3): 493-501.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.179073

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

Fei-bin Zhu 1, 2, Xiang-jing Fang 2, De-wu Liu 1, Ying Shao 2, Hong-yan Zhang 1, Yan Peng 1, Qing-ling Zhong 1, Yong-tie Li 1,De-ming Liu 3   

  1. 1 Burns Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
    2 Department of Burns, Huizhou Central People’s Hospital, Huizhou, Guangdong Province, China
    3 Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
  • Received:2016-01-26 Online:2016-03-15 Published:2016-03-15
  • Contact: De-wu Liu, M.D.,dewuliu@126.com.
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30560058; a grant from the Science and Technology
    Planning Project of Jiangxi Province, China, No. 20133BBG70026.

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Abstract:

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.

Key words: nerve regeneration, diabetes, substance P, epidermal stem cells, sensory nerve, wound healing, collagen, neural regeneration