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The proteolytic environment of chronic wounds
Author(s) -
Yager Dorne R.,
Nwomeh Benedict C.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
wound repair and regeneration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.847
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1524-475X
pISSN - 1067-1927
DOI - 10.1046/j.1524-475x.1999.00433.x
Subject(s) - proteases , proteolytic enzymes , inflammation , infiltration (hvac) , medicine , chronic wound , immunology , biology , wound healing , enzyme , biochemistry , physics , thermodynamics
A consistent feature of chronic leg and pressure ulcers is chronic inflammation associated with an elevated infiltration of neutrophils. Neutrophils and their proteases have been implicated in mediating the tissue damage associated with a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases. This review discusses our current understanding of the proteolytic enzymes found in chronic wounds and attempts to relate this information to the abundant presence of neutrophils. In addition, the implications that the proteolytic environment may have for current and future treatment strategies of chronic nonhealing wounds are discussed.