Age-related changes in rat myocardium involve altered capacities of glycosaminoglycans to potentiate growth factor functions and heparan sulfate-altered sulfation.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are essential components of the extracellular matrix, the natural environment from which cell behavior is regulated by a number or tissue homeostasis guarantors including growth factors. Because most heparin-binding growth factor activities are regulated by GAGs, structural and functional alterations of these polysaccharides may consequently affect the integrity of tissues during critical physiological and pathological processes. Here, we investigated whether the aging process can induce changes in the myocardial GAG composition in rats and whether these changes can affect the activities of particular heparin-binding growth factors known to sustain cardiac tissue integrity.

Matrix therapy with RGTA OTR4120 improves healing time and quality in hairless rats with deep second-degree burns.

Background: ReGeneraTing Agents (RGTAs) are biodegradable polymers engineered to mimic heparan-sulfate in the extracellular matrix of damaged tissue. RGTAs improve tissue healing in several animal models by stabilizing and protecting heparin-binding growth factors and matrix proteins. RGTA restores the normal matrix architecture and supports tissue regeneration.

[Basement of matrix therapy in regenerative medicine by RGTA(®): From fundamental to plastic surgery].

Cells present continuous renewal, permitting permanent regeneration which is called tissue homeostasis. The signaling protein, known as growth factors, cytokines, interleukins and chemokines, but also the extracellular matrix play a key role in the cellular communication. All processes are deregulated after tissue injury, inducing scars.

Matrix therapy in regenerative medicine, a new approach to chronic wound healing.

Nonhealing wounds remain a major health problem whose treatment is challenging and costly. Treatments based on cells or growth factors are still not very effective. We developed an entirely novel strategy consisting in treatment of the wound-tissue matrix with biopolymers engineered to mimic heparan sulfates called OTR4120.

RGTA OTR4120, a heparan sulfate mimetic, is a possible long-term active agent to heal burned skin.

Burn-related skin fibrosis leads to loss of tissue function and hypertrophic scar formation with damaging consequences for the patient. There is therefore a great need for an efficient agent to treat burned skin. We report that ReGeneraTing Agent (RGTA) reduces burn-induced skin alteration.