Wound healing acceleration of a novel transforming growth factor-beta inducer, SEK-1005

The studies were carried out to elucidate the effect of a novel cyclic peptide, SEK-1005 (C(45)H(70)N(8)O(13)), on wound healing. SEK-1005 (4-10 microg/wound) applied topically significantly accelerated the healing of a full-thickness wound on the dorsal skin of a rat. In a healing-impaired mouse, the peptide (2-10 microg/wound) had more potent activity, exerting an effect comparable to that of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF). However, SEK-1005 (0.1-100 ng/ml) scarcely promoted the proliferation of cultured fibroblasts (NIH3T3 cells) while basic FGF (0.2-5 ng/ml) showed marked mitogenic activity. SEK-1005 (2-10 microg/wound) significantly increased the topical production of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, a cytokine that is known to accelerate wound healing. This activity was closely correlated with the wound-repairing effect. From the above, SEK-1005 can be considered as a new type of wound healing agent with potent TGF-beta1-inducing activity.