Enhanced Wound Healing in Superficial Infection Wounds Through α-SMA Upregulation and Collagen Density Increase by Secretome Hypoxia Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Background: Superficial wound infections lead to delayed remodeling due to the suppression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) gene expression, thus inhibiting collagen synthesis. Secretomes from hypoxia mesenchymal stem cells (SH-MSCs) contain various cytokines and growth factors that play a role in accelerating wound healing and suppressing infections. This study aims to determine the influence of SH-MSCs gel administration on the α-SMA gene expression and collagen density in the skin tissue of rats with superficial wound infections. Research Design: The research design was a posttest-only control group with a completely randomized design. Methods: The study sample comprised 24 rats with superficial wound infections induced by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria at a concentration of 5x10^7 CFU/mL in 100 µl. The study included four groups: a healthy group, a negative control group, treatment 1 (T1) with a 10% dose of SH-MSCs gel, and treatment 2 (T2) with a 20% dose of SH-MSCs gel. The α-SMA gene expression was analyzed using qRT-PCR, and collagen density was analyzed using Masson's trichrome staining. Results: qRT-PCR analysis showed increased α-SMA gene expression in the T2 group, which was the highest (10.03±3.78), followed by the mean α-SMA gene expression in the T1 group (4.96±2.77). The lowest ratio was observed in the negative control treatment group, at 0.46±0.09. Collagen density analysis also revealed increased collagen density in the T2 group (35.68±5.28), the highest, followed by the mean collagen density in the T1 group (34.78±1.72). The negative control group observed the lowest collagen density data, at 17.39±2.47. Conclusion: Administration of SH-MSCs gel can increase α-SMA gene expression and collagen density in a rat model of superficial wound infection.