Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor promotes the healing of oral ulcers

OBJECTIVE: Oral ulcers are a lesion in the oral mucosa that impacts chewing or drinking. Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acids (EETs) have enhanced angiogenic, regenerative, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of 1-Trifluoromethoxyphenyl-3-(1-Propionylpiperidin-4-yl) Urea (TPPU), a soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor for increasing EETs level, on the healing of oral ulcers. METHODS: The chemically-induced oral ulcers were established in Sprague Dawley rats. The ulcer area was treated with TPPU to evaluate the healing time and pain threshold of ulcers. The expression of angiogenesis and cell proliferation-related protein in the ulcer area was detected using immunohistochemical staining. The effects of TPPU on migration and angiogenesis capability were measured with scratch assay and tube formation. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, TPPU promoted wound healing of oral ulcers with a shorter healing time, and raised pain thresholds. Immunohistochemical staining showed that TPPU increased the expression of angiogenesis and cell proliferation-related protein with reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in the ulcer area. TPPU enhanced cell migration and tube-forming potential in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: The present results support the potential of TPPU with multiple biological effects for the treatment of oral ulcers by targeting soluble epoxide hydrolase.