Human Saliva Could be Used In Treating Wounds

Highlights

• Wounds in the mouth heal faster and more efficiently than wounds elsewhere.
• Histatin-1 in the saliva promotes the formation of red blood cells.
• The compound could help in the design of better approaches to improve wound healing in tissues.

It was understood that saliva played a part in the wound healing process, though the extent of its role was unknown. A recent study finds out the reason. The study examined the effects of salivary peptide histatin-1 on angiogenesis (blood vessel formation), which is critical to the efficiency of wound healing.

Researchers found that histatin-1 promotes angiogenesis, as well as cell adhesion and migration. "These findings open new alternatives to better understand the biology underlying the differences between oral and skin wound healing," said Vicente A. Torres, Ph.D., associate professor at the Institute for Research in Dental Sciences within the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Chile in Santiago, Chile.

The study could help the design of better approaches to improve wound healing in tissues other than the mouth.

The study involved experiments at three levels:

• endothelial, or blood vessel-forming, cells in culture
• chicken embryos as animal models
• saliva samples obtained from healthy donors

Using these three models, histatin-1 and saliva were found to increase blood vessel formation. Using these molecules scientists are now taking the next step in this line of study-- to generate materials and implants to aid in wound healing.

"The clear results of the present study open a wide door to a therapeutic advance. They also bring to mind the possible meaning of animals, and often children, ’licking their wounds,’" said Thoru Pederson, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal.

Six Steps Of Wound Healing

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According to a study published in the World Journal of Surgery, there are six wound healing stages, each of which relies on one another in order to completely close a wound. Knowing what each step involves is crucial in developing a comprehensive healing plan. 

1. Rapid hemostasis - When a tissue is injured, it can be seen externally by bleeding. Rapid homeostasis refers to the mechanism that stops bleeding. The body does this process through vasoconstriction. This means that the blood vessels are closed tight.
2. Inflammation - Inflammation is the body’s way of alerting about an injury. Beyond that, it helps dictate where the next barrage of healthy cells should be headed. As such, inflammation is vital in the wound care process, but if it goes on for too long, it can actually prevent regeneration.
3. Proliferation and migration - When inflammation occurs, the body releases several kinds of cells, including those that are responsible for migration and proliferation. The former function actually refers to the movement of the cells, a carefully coordinated process that involves cells moving in a specific order. Meanwhile, proliferation is similar to hemostasis, as cells work to further constrict your blood vessels.
4. Angiogenesis - The body begins to rebuild tissue once the bleeding is under control. Angiogenesis, as it’s called, involves the formation of new blood vessels. This process occurs when your body’s cells begin to replace the veins and arteries that were damaged, either creating new sections or adding onto existing portions. It’s a decidedly complex endeavor, with many chemicals activating to facilitate these all-new veins.
5. Reepithelialization - Once the body begins to regrow veins, it’s time to begin regrowth of damaged skin. The epidermis is comprised of cells called keratinocytes, and during the reepithelialization process, the body has to begin forging these chemical components. The process involves the creation of several layers, each working in tandem to offer protection and prevent fluid loss.
6. Synthesis - Though it’s seen as the last step, synthesis often happens almost simultaneously. In this process, certain proteins form blood clots, which helps further prevent bleeding as new skin and veins are formed. There are a number of proteins at play, and certain people lack those necessary proteins to form blood clots.

Reference

1. Vicente A. Torres et al., The salivary peptide histatin-1 promotes endothelial cell adhesion, migration, and angiogenesis, FASEB Journal (2017) doi: 10.1096/fj.201700085R fj.201700085R.

Source-Medindia