Reduction of dermal scarring

Abstract

Methods and compositions for reducing or inhibiting dermal scarring by expressing p21 WAF1/Cip1 in a wound site are provided.

1 . A method for reducing scarring, the method comprising administering a polynucleotide comprising an expression cassette to skin of a subject having a wound, wherein the expression cassette comprises a promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding p21 WAF1/Cip1 . 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the DNA is administered as part of a vector. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the vector is a viral vector. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the viral vector is an adenoviral vector. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the adenoviral vector is a replication deficient adenoviral vector. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administrating step results in decreased keloids or hypertrophic scarring at the wound compared to scarring on an untreated wound. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the adenoviral vector is administered at a dose of between 10 5  and 10 9  particle number (PN) per cm 2  of the wound. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vector is administered in a biocompatible matrix. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the matrix comprises collagenous, metal, hydroxyapatite, bioglass, aluminate, bioceramic materials, purified proteins or extracellular matrix compositions. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the matrix is a collagen matrix. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the skin is burned. 
   
   
       12 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an expression cassette and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, wherein the composition is suitable for topical administration and the expression cassette comprises a promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding p21 WAF1/Cip1 . 
   
   
       13 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 12 , wherein the expression cassette is within a biocompatible matrix. 
   
   
       14 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 12 , wherein the matrix comprises a viral vector comprising the expression cassette. 
   
   
       15 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 14 , wherein the viral vector is an adenoviral vector. 
   
   
       16 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 15 , wherein the adenoviral vector is a replication deficient adenoviral vector. 
   
   
       17 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 12 , wherein the matrix comprises collagenous, metal, hydroxyapatite, bioglass, aluminate, bioceramic materials, purified proteins or extracellular matrix compositions. 
   
   
       18 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 12 , wherein the matrix is a collagen matrix.