Amnion-derived cellular cytokine solution: a physiological combination of cytokines for wound healing

Wound repair is a complex integration of dynamic processes mediated by humeral messages controlling the levels of cytokines, growth factors, and matrix metalloproteinases in the wound space. Isolated growth factors and growth factor combinations have been used to accelerate wound healing with limited success. A cellular cytokine solution can be collected by harvesting the proteins released from amnion-derived multipotent progenitor cells. The purpose of this study was to compare levels of cytokines/growth factors in amnion-derived cellular cytokine solution with physiological levels reported in the medical literature.

Amnion-derived multipotent progenitor cells were grown to confluency, and the proteins secreted were characterized by qualitative and quantitative analysis. These results were compared with physiologic levels reported in the medical literature.

The results demonstrated that amnion-derived cellular cytokine solution contained physiologic levels of cytokines relevant to wound healing, including platelet-derived growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, angiogenin, transforming growth factor beta 2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2. The ranges (mean +/- standard deviation) were as follows: platelet-derived growth factor, 86 +/- 33 pg/mL; vascular endothelial growth factor, 5.7 +/- 1.5 ng/mL; angiogenin, 1.0 +/- 0.33 ng/mL; transforming growth factor beta 2, 500 +/- 330pg/mL; tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, 530 +/- 140 ng/mL; and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2230 +/- 40 ng/mL. These levels are comparable with the physiologic levels reported in the literature.

The physiologic levels of cytokines important to healing found in amnion-derived cellular cytokine solution suggest that amnion-derived cellular cytokine solution may be of benefit in healing certain acute and chronic wounds.