Abstract

In orthopaedics, the use of factors that enhance granulation tissue formation and prevent or delay new bone regeneration is sometimes desirable. Calreticulin (CRT), a unique endoplasmic reticulum luminal Ca2+-binding chaperone widely distributed in eukaryotic cells, is involved in many cellular functions. Among them, CRT has an important influence in cutaneous wound healing and diverse processes associated with cutaneous repair, inhibition of angiogenesis, promotion of cell adhesion and antitumour effect. One of the molecules involved in several aspects of the host-parasite interplay is Trypanosoma cruzi calreticulin (TcCRT), which is highly homologous to human calreticulin (HuCRT). Here, recombinant (r)HuCRT and rTcCRT are compared on their abilities to affect fibroblast behaviour in a scratch plate assay, and wound healing in in vivo skin rat models. In molar terms, rTcCRT is three orders of magnitude more efficient than rHuCRT in increasing proliferation and migration of human fibroblasts in vitro. A similar effect was observed in vivo on rat skin wounds and inhibition of bone gap bridging in rabbit unicortical bone osteotomies.