PROMOTION OF WOUND HEALING BY CHEMICALLY-MODIFIED TETRACYCLINES

摘要

A method for improving the healing response of epithelialized tissue (e.g., skin, mucosae) to acute traumatic injury is disclosed. The method includes employing a tetracycline compound, having substantially no antibacterial activity, to improve the capacity of the epithelialized tissue to heal acute wounds. Specifically, the method involves increasing the rate of collagen accumulation of the healing epithelialized tissue above that associated with wound healing in the individual. The method decreases proteolytic activity in the epithelialized tissue by means of the tetracycline compound, most commonly decreasing collagenolytic activity and/or decreasing gelatinolytic activity. Collagenase and gelatinase activity have been shown to be decreased by the method of the invention. Preferably, the method is employed to improve the wound healing capacity of human or animal subjects in whom such capacity is impaired. Also, the non-antibiotic tetracycline is preferably administered topically at the site of the wound.