OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of NH2-terminal sequence Ac-EEED peptide of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) which is the specific antibody of alpha-SMA on wound contraction.

METHODS(1) Full skin loss wounds were created on the backs of Wistar rats. The wound edge was fixed by a hard plastic frame. The wounds in experimental group (EG) were applied topically with alpha-SMA fusion peptide containing Ac-DEDE at N-terminal (alpha-SMA -FP, 1 mg/ml) during 8 to 10 days after the injury, while gel only (0.5 mg/ml) and alpha-SMA -FP (1 mg/ml) were topically applied to the wounds in control group 1 and 2, respectively. The wound areas were determined at 1, 6 and 24 hours after the removal at the fixing frame at 10 days after injury. The wound contraction rates were determined by comparing the wound area after and before the frame removal. (2) The fibroblasts in the granulation tissue were isolated 9 days after injury and were cultured in deformable silicone substrate dish. The changes in cell contraction were observed before and after the fibroblasts were treated with alpha-SMA -FP (1 mg/ml) and after alpha-SMA -FP was washed away.

RESULTS(1) The wound contraction rates exhibited no evident difference at 1, 6 and 24 hours after the removal of fixing frame in control group 1 and 2 (P < 0.05). (2) There exhibited numerous wrinkles within the fibroblasts under the microscope before alpha-SMA -FP processing. But the wrinkles decreased and became shallow remarkably at 5 mins after alpha-SMA -FP processing and disappeared completely 30 mins later. The wrinkles recovered gradually after alpha-SMA -FP was removed. But the cells treated by gel and alpha-SKA -FP exhibited no such phenomenon.

CONCLUSIONalpha-SMA-AcEEED might specifically inhibit the contraction of granulation tissue and inhibit the contraction of fibroblasts, which was reversible.