Effect of blockade of tumor necrosis factor-α with etanercept on surgical wound healing in SWISS-OF1 mice

Abstract

Objective. To assess whether blockade of tumor necrosis factor-± (TNF-±) influences surgical wound healing in a normal mouse experimental model. Methods. Wound healing time course and degree of surgical wound collagenization were measured by morphological techniques and digital image analysis in 80 male SWISS-OF1 mice (40 received subcutaneous etanercept at a dose of 0.1 mg/25g/ at -7, 0, 7, and 14 days). Results. No significant differences were observed between treated and untreated animals in wound healing, re-epithelialization, or formation of inflammatory infiltrate or granulation tissue at days 7, 15, or 20 after surgery. At 20 days, the collagen area was larger in treated versus untreated mice (109029 ± 28489 μm2 vs 79305 ± 19798 μm2, p = 0.026, Mann-Whitney U test). Conclusion. Surgical wounds showed a higher degree of collagenization at 20 days in etanercept-treated versus untreated mice, with no differences in the time course of wound healing. These data suggest that biological therapies to block TNF-α do not affect wound healing and do not need to be suspended during the perioperative period. The Journal of Rheumatology Copyright © 2009. All rights reserved.