Periplaneta americana Extracts Promote Skin Wound Healing via Nuclear Factor Kappa B Canonical Pathway and Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Signaling

Abstract

Periplaneta americana extracts (PAEs) exhibit wound healing properties. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we treated human skin fibroblasts (HSF) with PAE and the proliferation was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The wound healing and transwell migration assays were used to detect cell migration. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways were analyzed by Western blot (WB). Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the key molecular localization in the cells. The results showed that PAE enhanced the proliferation and migration of HSF cells. The expression and activation of key proteins such as RelA and p-ERK were increased in NF-κB and ERK pathways followed by nuclear translocation. In vivo, both WB and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining showed that PAE enhanced p-IκBα and p-ERK activation and the nuclear translocation of RelA. Our study suggests that the protective function of PAE is mediated via enhanced NF-κB and ERK signaling.