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Updated: Aug 5, 2026

A Protocol for Constructing a Rat Wound Model of Type 1 Diabetes
Published on: February 17, 2023
ApiRegenin, an Animal-Derived Platelet-Rich Plasma Extract, Accelerates Wound Healing of Chronic Diabetic Ulcer in
Zheng-Qi Wang1,2, Minnie Wing-Yi Mak1, Xiong Gao1,2
1Center for Chinese Medicine, Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China.
Abstract:
Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) plays a crucial role in chronic wound healing by releasing growth factors that regulate inflammation, promote angiogenesis, and stimulate tissue regeneration. Methods and Results: Here, an animal source of PRP, named ApiRegenin and derived from cultivated deer blood, was established. Specific protein and non-protein biomarkers-including nicotinamide, palmitic acid, IGF, and fibronectin-were validated to ensure batch-to-batch quality control. The pharmacological properties of ApiRegenin in cultured cells transfected with DNA encoding HRE and NF-κB reporter constructs were validated, serving as a functional control. In a skin-defective model of db/db diabetic mice, accelerated wound healing was observed following ApiRegenin treatment. Histological analysis revealed enhancements of re-epithelialization, granulation tissue formation, and collagen deposition. In parallel, the immunofluorescence staining of CD31, α-SMA, and VEGF was upregulated, indicating the promotion of angiogenesis. Furthermore, ApiRegenin treatment shifted the local immune microenvironment toward an M2-like macrophage phenotype, characterized by the downregulation of iNOS and the contrastive upregulation of Arg-1. At the molecular level, transcriptomic enrichment analysis suggested the prominent involvement of the HIF-1, PI3K-Akt, and TNF signaling pathways. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that ApiRegenin effectively accelerates diabetic wound healing by promoting angiogenesis and modulating macrophage polarization.
