Studies on cytokines related to wound healing in donor site wound fluid

This study was performed to evaluate cytokines in donor-site wound fluids and to determine their effect on wound healing. A film dressing was applied to the donor-site wound of 24 patients immediately after a split-thickness skin graft was taken. On the 5th day after treatment, 2-3 ml of the fluid retained under the film dressing was collected by means of puncture with a syringe. Growth factors and cytokines considered to accelerate wound healing were present in relatively large amounts in the exudate. Very low concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were detected by a commercially-available enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) kit. However, the presence of both growth factors in wound fluid could not be confirmed because of the possible cross-reactivity of the antibodies to other EGF and FGF family growth factors. In contrast, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and TGF-beta were present in relatively large amounts. The finding that certain cytokines coexist in a balanced state under the film dressing suggests that epithelization can proceed, since an adequate balance would insure proper regulation by the cytokine network. Our present study increases the likelihood that film or hydrocolloid dressings will be used more frequently in the future for treatment of burn wounds, ulcers or donor-site wounds since these dressings were shown to be more capable than ointments of retaining cytokines, particularly intrinsic growth factors secreted at the wound site.