Hydrocellular foam dressing (HCF) absorbs excessive
wound fluid, which contains various
cytokines and
growth factors, and ensures a moist environment to promote wound healing. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the
wound fluid component changes induced by HCF are poorly understood. In the present study, we examined the effect of HCF on wound healing and the associated regulatory mechanisms in relation to variations in
cytokine levels in the
wound fluid. We created full-thickness
wounds on the dorsolateral skin of rats and collected the resulting
wound fluid samples. HCF was immersed in a plate containing the
wound fluids. HCF was then removed and the excess
wound fluid remaining in the plate was examined by
cytokine array and
enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay. We also used a rat model and human dermal fibroblast cultures to examine the effect of
wound fluid component changes during the wound healing process. Upon treatment with HCF,
leptin levels were upregulated in the
wound fluid. Fibroblast proliferation was enhanced and the effect was suppressed in the presence of
leptin antagonist. In our in vivo model, HCF increased
wound contraction compared with film dressings and this positive effect of HCF was suppressed by addition of
leptin antagonist. Our results suggest that dermal fibroblast proliferation is upregulated by HCF due to increased
leptin level at the
wound surface, and these effects promote wound healing. We believe that the present study contributes to furthering the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effects of HCF-induced wound healing.