Substance P, a Neuropeptide, Promotes Wound Healing via Neurokinin-1 Receptor

Substance P (SP), an endogenous neuropeptide, mediates intracellular signaling, mainly through a tachykinin receptor. The tachykinin receptors family consists of neurokinin-1 (NK-1), neurokinin-2 (NK-2), and neurokinin-3 receptors. Our previous studies on SP have shown its wound healing potentials. But the exact mechanism of wound healing by SP is not exactly known. In view of this, the present study was aimed at evaluating the in vitro wound healing effect of SP alone and in the presence of NK-1, NK-2, and both receptor antagonists. Scratch assay, transwell assay, and tumor growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) assay were performed on buffalo fetal fibroblast culture. The cotreatment of fibroblast cultures with SP alone during the 24 h caused the significant proliferation and migrations of cells in both horizontal and vertical directions. The SP in the presence of spantide II (NK-1 antagonist) failed to stimulate this migration. The treatment of cells with SP in the presence of NK-2 antagonist treatment also showed a significant reduction of migration of cells with respect to SP treatment alone. The SP in the presence of both NK-1 and NK-2 antagonists failed to stimulate the horizontal migration of cells and most of the ineffectiveness of SP was observed in this combination. The TGF-β1 levels were significantly higher in the supernatants of cells that were exposed to SP alone. All other treatments have significantly lower TGF-β1 levels than SP alone treatment. It is concluded that different actions on fibroblast cells by SP were mainly mediated through the NK-1 receptor.