Objective     To investigate the roles of calcium-responsive factor (CaRF)

a transcription factor

in wound healing.      Methods     An excision of 1 cm×1 cm full thickness wound were inflicted on the backs of SD rats

and then the rats were randomly divided into 3 groups

saline control

CaRF RNAi treatment

CaRF over-expression treatment

with the animals of later 2 groups receiving CaRF or CaRF RNAi by lipofectin transfection. The progress of wound healing was observed by wound healing index

morphological changes

contents of hydroxyamino acid and total protein in granulation tissues

and the expression of CaRF at the 3rd

7th

14th day post-injury respectively.      Results     CaRF RNAi treated group showed slower wound healing while the healing in the CaRF over-expressed group was faster and better with an extra reduction of 28.6 % in wound as compared to control groups.      Conclusion     The transcription factor CaRF may be involved in wound healing

which may provide a foundation for the development of new treatment strategy for wound healing after skin injury.