- T Sun: Research Laboratory, 304th Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Beijing.
We investigated the effect of the different concentrations of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) on the expansion of human skin in vitro. Pieces of skin about 2 mm2 in area were placed in 24-cell wells and rhEGF in different concentrations was added. The wells were incubated at 37 degrees C in 5% CO2 for 4 d. The expanded area of each piece of skin was measured. The results indicated that rhEGF possessed a regulating effect on the expansion of skin pieces, and the expanded area was parabolically related with the concentrations of rhEGF. When the rhEGF concentration reached 5 micrograms/L, the maximal area expansion (7.08 +/- 2.40 mm2) was found, which was as twice as the area in control group (3.63 +/- 1.98 mm2). It was suggested that rhEGF had a potential therapeutic effect in wound healing.