Scientists from Rutgers University and the University of Glasgow are suggesting that a protein derived from the Heligmosomoides polygyrus — a species of intestinal parasitic roundworm — could potentially lead to scar-free healing.

To potentially treat deep injuries that affect the dermis and often lead to scar tissue — possibly resulting in permanent changes in appearance and restricting movement in nearby muscles and joints — the team focused on the roundworm, which naturally infests the intestines of rodents.

The scientists explained that in order to survive in their hosts, the intestinal parasites produce proteins that interact with the host’s immune system to suppress certain immune responses. The team has recently identified that specific protein from Heligmosomoides polygyrus called TGF-beta mimic (TGM) as capable of enhancing the skin’s healing process while also inhibiting the immune activities that lead to scar formation, such as inflammation.

To reach this conclusion, the scientists applied daily doses of TGM to the injured skin of lab mice, finding that wounds treated with TGM healed more quickly and showed significantly less scarring than wounds left untreated. After 12 days of treatment, the skin of the treated mice appeared almost entirely restored to its original condition, and even regenerated hair follicles within the dermis.

“In this study, we have developed a novel therapy for the treatment of skin wounds that favors regenerative wound healing over tissue fibrosis and scarring. It provides a significant framework for the potential use of an easy-to-produce parasite protein as a therapy to promote cutaneous wound healing,” the researchers added.

However, the team cautions that the research is in its early stages and still needs to be trialed on human subjects.

This team’s findings are detailed in the article, “Helminth protein enhances wound healing by inhibiting fibrosis and promoting tissue regeneration," which appears in the journal Life Science Alliance.

To contact the author of this article, email mdonlon@globalspec.com