Genetic Engineering Makes Wounds Heal Faster

Study found transgenic mice bounced back from injuries more quickly

(HealthDay is the new name for HealthScoutNews.)

FRIDAY, July 18, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- Mice that are genetically designed to produce a protein called angiopoietin-related growth factor (AGF) exhibit extraordinarily quick wound healing.

That finding comes from a Japanese study in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers created the mice to study the role of AGF in blood vessel formation. The mice were designed to create AGF in epidermal keratinocytes, a type of skin cell.

The transgenic mice had swollen and reddish ears, noses and eyelids. They also had more blood vessels in the skin than normal mice. This suggested to the researchers that AGF promotes blood vessel formation.

Unexpectedly, the researchers also found the transgenic mice had much thicker skin and skin cells that multiplied much faster than in normal mice. They removed small pieces of the ear and tail on the transgenic mice and found the mice displayed unusually fast wound healing.

It took just 28 days for 2-millimeter holes punched in the ears of the transgenic mice to fully heal.

The findings suggest further research on AGF may help scientists find new forms of treatment for wounds.

More information

Here's where you can find out more about healing wounds.

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