Protein metabolism during healing of wounds.

Although the problem of the healing of wounds has commanded much interest for a long time, the metabolic changes which accompany wound healing have been seriousiy investigated only since the early work of Howes and his associates (1-4) has appeared. Much of the literature in this field has been concerned with an empirical approach to the acceleration of the healing processes. The lack of quantitatively precise methods for measuring the rates of healing, even in experimental wounds, has impaired the value of much of this work. Nonetheless, a number of metabolic implications can be gleaned from these empirical studies. Only relatively recently have systematic studies been undertaken on metabolism after injury. The biochemical work on wounds and wound healing has been devoted largely to the metabolism of proteins by the injured organism and the determination of the character and metabolism of certain proteins and polysaccharides of the wound area. The latter have been of interest because of their close association with the protein fibers found not only in wound tissue but also in connective tissue in general. The present discussion will be limited to the consideration of some aspects of the metabolism of proteins, and their constituent amino acids, which are influenced by the infliction of various types of trauma.