Antimicrobial Peptide Pt5‐1c Promotes Keratinocyte Migration and Proliferation via EGFR‐mediated Akt/MAPK/STAT3 pathways

Keratinocytes, as the most dominant cell type in the epidermis, play multiple roles in skin wound healing. Recently, we have shown that a short antimicrobial peptide Pt5-1c can promote skin wound healing via enhancing fibroblast proliferation and migration in vitro, and accelerating re-epithelialization of murine dermal wounds in vivo.([1]) However, its effects on keratinocytes is unknown. Here we clearly showed that Pt5-1c markedly enhanced keratinocyte migration and proliferation. Moreover, Pt5-1c stimulated keratinocyte activation by inducing the phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in keratinocytes. Importantly, Pt5-1c also increased collagen production, stimulated cell proliferation, and enhanced the phosphorylation of Akt, p38 and STAT3 in the wound skin tissues. These together indicate that Pt5-1c can promote keratinocyte migration and proliferation via activation of EGFR-mediated Akt, MAPK, and STAT3 pathways, thereby contributing to skin wound healing.