Topical application of yeast extract accelerates the wound healing of diabetic mice

Alcoholic extracts of yeast have been used as the active ingredient in medi cations under names such as "tissue or skin respiratory factor," Biodyne (S perti Drug Co, Cincinnati, Ohio-now defunct), and live yeast cell derivativ e (LYCD). Beneficial clinical results from the use of LYCD have been report ed for the treatment of burns, wounds, and hemorrhoids. The medicinal effec ts of LYCD have recently been localized to a protein fraction containing a mixture of several peptides. The effects of topical application of the pept ide mixture on wounds were examined in diabetic mice, an animal model in wh ich the healing process is disrupted and delayed. Full-thickness wounds wer e created on the backs of diabetic (DB) and nondiabetic (non-DB) mice. Half of the DB and non-DB mice were treated with 0.05 mL of LYCD after wounding and for 4 successive days. All other mice received vehicle. Wound areas we re measured at Day 0 and at 2-day intervals. Mice were sacrificed at 3, 7, 10, 21, and 28 days postinjury. Differences in the extent and quality of he aling appeared between DB mice receiving LYCD and DB mice receiving vehicle by day 10 (P <.0001). By 24 days postinjury, DB mice receiving LYCD had ac hieved 100% wound closure, whereas DB mice receiving vehicle had achieved o nly 31.4% wound closure. Histologic examination of wounds reflected improve d wound healing in DB mice receiving LYCD as compared with those receiving vehicle. A topically applied yeast extract peptide mixture significantly at tenuates wound closure and the degree of cellular reorganization of full-th ickness excisional wounds of DB mice.