The Antioxidant Tetrapeptide Epitalon Enhances Delayed Wound Healing in an in Vitro Model of Diabetic Retinopathy

Gatta M, Dovizio M, Milillo C, Ruggieri AG, Sallese M, Antonucci I, Trofimov A, Khavinson V, Trofimova S, Bruno A, Ballerini P · Stem Cell Rev Rep

High glucose slowed scratch-wound closure over 48 hours and raised hydrogen peroxide generation. Epitalon restored wound closure at all three concentrations, cut hydrogen peroxide at 40 and 60 ng/ml, and reversed the fall in antioxidant gene expression and the rise in epithelial-mesenchymal-transition and fibrosis markers.

Population

The human retinal pigment epithelial cell line ARPE-19 injured with high glucose (35 mM) as a model of diabetic retinopathy

Intervention

Epitalon 20, 40 or 60 ng/ml, supplied by the originating institute

Comparator

High-glucose cells without the peptide, and normal-glucose controls

Limitations

One immortalised cell line. A University of Chieti-Pescara collaboration with two institute authors, one of them Khavinson, who died before submission, and the peptide supplied by the institute; funded by the European Union's Next Generation EU national recovery plan; no competing interests declared.