Lipoxin A4 encapsulated in PLGA microparticles accelerates wound healing of skin ulcers

PLoS One. 2017 Jul 28;12(7):e0182381. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182381. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) is involved in the resolution of inflammation and wound healing; however, it is extremely unstable. Thus, to preserve its biological activities and confer stability, we encapsulated LXA4 in poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) microparticles (LXA4-MS) and assessed its application in treating dorsal rat skin lesions. Ulcers were sealed with fibrin adhesive and treated with either LXA4-MS, unloaded microparticles (Un-MS), soluble LXA4, or PBS/glue (vehicle). All groups were compared at 0, 2, 7, and 14 days post-lesions. Our results revealed that LXA4-MS accelerated wound healing from day 7 and reduced initial ulcer diameters by 80%. Soluble LXA4, Un-MS, or PBS closed wounds by 60%, 45%, and 39%, respectively. LXA4-MS reduced IL-1β and TNF-α, but increased TGF-β, collagen deposition, and the number of blood vessels. Compared to other treatments, LXA4-MS reduced inflammatory cell numbers, myeloperoxidase (MPO) concentration, and metalloproteinase-8 (MMP8) mRNA in scar tissue, indicating decreased neutrophil chemotaxis. In addition, LXA4-MS treatment increased macrophages and IL-4, suggesting a positive impact on wound healing. Finally, we demonstrated that WRW4, a selective LXA4 receptor (ALX) antagonist, reversed healing by 50%, indicating that LXA4 must interact with ALX to induce wound healing. Our results show that LXA4-MS could be used as a pharmaceutical formulation for the treatment of skin ulcers.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Lactic Acid / chemistry*
  • Lipoxins / chemistry*
  • Lipoxins / pharmacology
  • Lipoxins / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Neutrophils / drug effects
  • Neutrophils / metabolism
  • Polyglycolic Acid / chemistry*
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Skin Ulcer / drug therapy*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • Wound Healing / drug effects

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interleukin-6
  • Lipoxins
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • lipoxin A4
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Polyglycolic Acid
  • Lactic Acid

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP; grant #2014/07125-6) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.