The healing of skin wounds is a complex process that involves numerous and different cells at different stages (EMING et al., 2014).
Preclinical and preliminary clinical data strongly suggest that valproic acid (VPA), due to its epigenetic effects, may be an effective drug to combat solid tumors, in combination therapy with classical cytotoxic drugs, with other molecularly targeted drugs or radiation.
In an article published in v. 37, n. 4 of Acta Cirúrgica Brasileira, researchers from the Federal University of Paraná UFPR, in southern Brazil, analyzed the effects of VPA on the skin healing process in a murine model. Sixty male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: the experimental group, treated with VPA (100 mg/kg/day); and the control group, which received only a saline solution, also by gavage.
A median incision of approximately 5 cm was made in the ventral abdominal wall, and the healing of the skin was studied in three moments (third, seventh and 14th day).
The article indicates the parameters, techniques, equipment and procedures used in the research and displays the results in tables. On the third day examination, the inflammatory reaction was either acute or subacute in both groups. On the seventh and 14th days, the inflammatory reaction was chronic in the control group and subacute in the experimental group, which was treated with VPA.
Although the number of leukocytes was higher in the analysis of the cellularity of the histological section of the experimental group on the third day, the difference was not significant for the result of the analysis on the other days. Thus, it appears that initially the inflammatory process was more intense in the group that received VPA.
Regarding angiogenesis, the number of vessels was lower in the experimental group at the three moments. In the three moments of collagen analysis by immunohistochemistry, the density of collagen I was higher in the control group, with the group treated with VPA showing higher density of collagen III. Myofibroblasts appeared rare on the third day and in moderate quantities in the other periods.
The article indicates the parameters, techniques, equipment and procedures used in the research and displays the results in tables. In addition to the results focused on the analysis of the epigenetic effect of VPA, caution is recommended in the application of the treatment, since epigenetic blockade can potentiate the damage eventually caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Read more
Eming SA, Martin P, Tomic-Canic M. Wound repair and regeneration: mechanisms, signaling, and translation. Sci Transl Med, 6(265):265sr6, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.3009337
To read the full article, access:
Biondo-Simões, Rachel et al. The effects of valproic acid on skin healing: experimental study in rats. Acta Cirúrgica Brasileira [online], v. 37, n. 4, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1590/acb370403
Links
Acta Cirurgica Brasileira – ACB: https://www.scielo.br/j/acb/
Universidade Federal do Paraná – UFPR: http://www.ufpr.br/portalufpr/
