Fig. 1

AW1 promoted reepithelialization to accelerate full-thickness wound repair and keratinocyte scratch wound healing. A Full-thickness wound status in mice under PBS, rh-bFGF, AW1 (1, 10, and 100 nM), and scrambled peptide treatment on days 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8. Peptides and rh-bFGF were dissolved in PBS to obtain AW1 (1, 10, and 100 nM), scrambled peptide (100 nM), and rh-bFGF (100 ng/mL) solutions. Each wound was treated with vehicle (20 µL, PBS), rh-bFGF (20 µL), different concentrations of AW1 (20 µL), or scrambled peptide (20 µL) twice a day from days 0–8, respectively. B–E Skin wound repair rate on days 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8. Data are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) from six mice (n = 6). F Expression of Ki67 in neoepidermis after PBS, rh-bFGF, AW1 (1, 10, and 100 nM), and scrambled peptide treatment on day 8 postoperation. Red arrows indicate positive staining, scale bar 50 μm. G Quantitative expression of Ki67 in mouse skin wounds on day 8. Data are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) from six mice (n = 6). H Representative images of keratinocyte scratch wound healing under PBS, rh-bFGF (100 ng/mL), AW1 (1, 10, and 100 nM), and scrambled peptide (100 nM) treatment at 0 h and 24 h, scale bar 10 μm. I Quantification of keratinocyte scratch repair rate under AW1 (1, 10, and 100 nM) treatment for 24 h. Data are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) from three independent experiments (n = 3). Ns, no significance; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, and ****P < 0.0001 indicate statistically significant difference compared with vehicle