Effect of activated protein C in second intention healing of equine distal limb wounds: a preliminary study.
Abstract: To investigate the effect of activated protein C (APC) on second intention healing of distal limb wounds in horses. Methods: In this experimental study of eight Standardbred geldings, six full-thickness skin wounds (2 × 1.5 cm) were created on one metacarpus (biopsy limb) and five similar wounds were created on the contralateral metacarpus (photographed limb). Three wounds on the biopsy limb were treated topically with 190 µg APC on days 1, 3, 6 and 9, while the remaining three wounds were untreated (control). One treated and one control wound were biopsied on days 4, 7 and 11 for histopathology. Wounds on the photographed limb were treated with either 66% Manuka honey gel, a commercial antibiotic ointment (bacitracin-neomycin-polymixin B ointment; BNP) or petrolatum daily throughout healing, treated on days 1,3,6 and 9 with 190 µg APC or left untreated. These wounds were digitally photographed and the wound area measured on day 1, then weekly until day 49. Overall time to healing was recorded. Results: There was no effect of APC on wound size, the rate of healing or the overall time to heal. However, compared with control wounds, histological scoring demonstrated enhanced epithelialisation (day 4) and angiogenesis (day 11). Wound healing variables for wounds treated with APC, Manuka honey gel and control wounds were not different and the variables for wounds treated with BNP and petrolatum demonstrated delayed healing. Conclusions: The improvements in histological scores in APC-treated wounds suggest further study into the effect of APC on second intention wound healing in horses is warranted.
© 2015 Australian Veterinary Association.
Publication Date: 2015-09-29 PubMed ID: 26412117DOI: 10.1111/avj.12363Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article explores the impact of activated protein C (APC) on the second intention healing process of distal limb wounds in horses. The results showed no significant effect on wound size or healing rate, but there were improvements in epithelialisation and angiogenesis in APC-treated wounds compared to untreated ones.
Research Methodology
- The experiment was conducted on eight Standardbred geldings. To create a controlled study environment, the researchers made six full-thickness skin wounds on one metacarpus (biopsy limb) and five similar wounds on the contralateral metacarpus (photographed limb).
- Three wounds on the biopsy limb were treated with APC on days 1, 3, 6, and 9. The other three wounds were left untreated as a control group.
- On the photographed limb, the wounds were treated daily with either Manuka honey gel, a commercial antibiotic ointment, petrolatum or APC or left untreated. These wounds were photographed and measured on day 1, then weekly until day 49.
Findings
- There was no significant effect of APC on wound size, the rate of healing or the overall time to heal.
- However, upon comparing with control wounds, histological scoring showed improved epithelialisation on day 4 and better angiogenesis on day 11 with APC treatment.
- There was no noticeable difference in wound healing variables between wounds treated with APC, Manuka honey gel, and untreated ones.
- Wounds treated with commercial antibiotic ointment and petrolatum exhibited delayed healing.
Conclusion
- The improvements in histological scores for APC-treated wounds suggest the need for further study into the effect of APC on second intention wound healing in horses.
- While APC didn’t seem to affect the wound size, healing rate, or healing time, it did enhance processes that are essential to wound healing, such as epithelialisation and angiogenesis. These findings could lead to new healing treatments for equine wounds.
Cite This Article
APA
Bischofberger AS, Tsang AS, Horadagoda N, Dart CM, Perkins NR, Jeffcott LB, Jackson CJ, Dart AJ.
(2015).
Effect of activated protein C in second intention healing of equine distal limb wounds: a preliminary study.
Aust Vet J, 93(10), 361-366.
https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.12363 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Research and Clinical Trials Unit, University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Camden, University of Sydney, 410 Werombi Road, Camden, New South Wales, 2570, Australia.
- Research and Clinical Trials Unit, University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Camden, University of Sydney, 410 Werombi Road, Camden, New South Wales, 2570, Australia.
- Research and Clinical Trials Unit, University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Camden, University of Sydney, 410 Werombi Road, Camden, New South Wales, 2570, Australia.
- Research and Clinical Trials Unit, University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Camden, University of Sydney, 410 Werombi Road, Camden, New South Wales, 2570, Australia.
- Ausvet Animal Health Services, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia.
- Research and Clinical Trials Unit, University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Camden, University of Sydney, 410 Werombi Road, Camden, New South Wales, 2570, Australia.
- Sutton Arthritis Research Laboratories, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW, Australia.
- Research and Clinical Trials Unit, University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Camden, University of Sydney, 410 Werombi Road, Camden, New South Wales, 2570, Australia. andrew.dart@sydney.edu.au.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
- Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology
- Bacitracin / pharmacology
- Drug Combinations
- Gels
- Honey
- Horses
- Lower Extremity / injuries
- Lower Extremity / physiopathology
- Male
- Neomycin / pharmacology
- Photography
- Polymyxin B / pharmacology
- Protein C / pharmacology
- Random Allocation
- Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
- Skin / drug effects
- Skin / injuries
- Wound Healing / drug effects
- Wound Healing / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Ribeiro G, Carvalho L, Borges J, Prazeres J. The Best Protocol to Treat Equine Skin Wounds by Second Intention Healing: A Scoping Review of the Literature. Animals (Basel) 2024 May 18;14(10).
- Helal IE, Al-Abbadi HA, El-Daharawy MH, Ahmed MF. Enhancement of chronic wound healing with maltodextrin/ascorbic acid gel: a clinical evaluation of distal limb wounds in horses. J Anim Sci Technol 2022 Sep;64(5):997-1007.
- Zhao R, Lin H, Bereza-Malcolm L, Clarke E, Jackson CJ, Xue M. Activated Protein C in Cutaneous Wound Healing: From Bench to Bedside. Int J Mol Sci 2019 Feb 19;20(4).
- Giampieri F, Gasparrini M, Forbes-Hernández TY, Manna PP, Zhang J, Reboredo-Rodríguez P, Cianciosi D, Quiles JL, Torres Fernández-Piñar C, Orantes-Bermejo FJ, Bompadre S, Afrin S, Battino M. Beeswax by-Products Efficiently Counteract the Oxidative Damage Induced by an Oxidant Agent in Human Dermal Fibroblasts. Int J Mol Sci 2018 Sep 19;19(9).
- Zhou J, Hu R, Jing S, Xue X, Tang W. Activated protein C inhibits lung injury induced by LPS via downregulating MAPK signaling. Exp Ther Med 2018 Aug;16(2):931-936.
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