Method for promoting wound healing

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for treating wounds and for accelerating the healing of wounds by administering an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition containing type VII collagen protein, mini-C7 protein, variants thereof or any combinations thereof. The pharmaceutical composition may be administered through a variety of routes including intravenous injection, topical application, or oral ingestion. The method may further include administering a genetically modified fibroblast capable of expressing type VII collagen protein, miniC7 protein, variants thereof or small growth factors to achieve synergistic healing effect.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating or accelerating healing of a wound in the skin of a diabetic subject, comprising:
 administering to the diabetic subject an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one wound healing agent selected from Collagen VII (C7), mini-C7, a Collagen VII (C7) variant, and a mini-C7 variant.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human, or the Collagen VII (C7), mini-C7, Collagen VII (C7) variant or mini-C7 variant is a human Collagen VII (C7), mini-C7, Collagen VII (C7) variant or mini-C7 variant. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition further comprises a stabilizing agent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition further comprises
 a genetically engineered fibroblast that synthesizes and expresses one or more of C7, mini-C7, type I collagen, type III collagen, type XVII collagen, small growth factors and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the small growth factor comprises an epidermal growth factor (EGF), a transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), a transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta), a platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered to the diabetic subject by intravenous administration or topical application. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wound healing agent comprises C7. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wound is a diabetic ulcer or diabetic wound. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the wound is a diabetic trophic ulcer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wound is a chronic skin wound.