The involvement of the ECM and RGD peptides in apoptosis induction during wound healing

Skin Peptides: Biological Activity and Therapeutic Opportunities

“…Small soluble RGD containing peptides were produced by enzymatic cleavage of collagen, which induces apoptosis of dermal fibroblasts through specific caspase-3 cleavage. 54 …”

“…Many of the integrins recognise a tripeptide (arginine-glycine-aspartate) or RGD in target proteins of the ECM. 53 Vigor et al 54 hypothesised that during the proteolytic remodelling of the ECM, small soluble RGD-containing peptides were released into the matrix. Soluble RGD-peptides have previously been found to be internalised into a cell in an integrin-independent manner and are able to directly bind to and activate caspase-3, thus inducing apoptosis.…”

“…60 During the proteolytic remodelling of the extra cellular matrix, small soluble RGD-containing peptides are released into the matrix milieu. 54 As these peptides are known to directly activate apoptosis they are likely to be especially helpful in situations in which leukocyte accumulation and resistance to apoptosis contribute to disease pathology. 55 They are useful in wound repair as they are internalised into a cell and are able to bind and activate caspase-3 inducing apoptosis.…”

“…55 They are useful in wound repair as they are internalised into a cell and are able to bind and activate caspase-3 inducing apoptosis. 54 Copper peptides have also been used as wound healing agents. 58,102 For example, glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu (GHK) accelerates wound healing and stimulates biological events important in tissue repair such as angiogenesis, nerve outgrowth and chemoattraction of cells critical to healing (e.g.…”