Cutaneous wound healing: recruiting developmental pathways for regeneration

Abstract

Following a skin injury, the damaged tissue is repaired through the coordinated biological actions that constitute the cutaneous healing response. In mammals, repaired skin is not identical to intact uninjured skin, however, and this disparity may be caused by differences in the mechanisms that regulate postnatal cutaneous wound repair compared to embryonic skin development. Improving our understanding of the molecular pathways that are involved in these processes is essential to generate new therapies for wound healing complications. Here we focus on the roles of several key developmental signaling pathways (Wnt/β-catenin, TGF-β, Hedgehog, Notch) in mammalian cutaneous wound repair, and compare this to their function in skin development. We discuss the varying responses to cutaneous injury across the taxa, ranging from complete regeneration to scar tissue formation. Finally, we outline how research into the role of developmental pathways during skin repair has contributed to current wound therapies, and holds potential for the development of more effective treatments.

Notch1 Signaling Regulates Wound Healing via Changing the Characteristics of Epidermal Stem Cells

“…In normal adult skin, Notch1 mRNA transcript was detected in the basal layer of interfollicular epidermis which Jagged 1 appeared a similar distribution. In the course of wound healing, Notch signaling regulates inflammation, angiogenesis and epidermal differentiation, and that it is required for proper healing [23][24][25]. In response to wound, research has suggested Notch1 showed a gradation of increasing intensity from the wound centre to the edge was evident.…”

Activation of Erk and p53 regulates copper oxide nanoparticle-induced cytotoxicity in keratinocytes and fibroblasts

“…26 A loss of skin integrity renders the body vulnerable to invasion by foreign pathogens. Viability loss restrains the proliferation and migration capacity of both cell types, which will undermine cutaneous wound healing and lead to inflammation and infection.…”

A Simple Mathematical Model for Wound Closure Evaluation

“…7, top and bottom left). Expression (5) has the advantage over expression (1) in that fewer data points are needed to trace the healing profile, because of the theoretical linear trend; therefore, linkage between data, is considered. Thus, from the mathematical point of view, five visits taken once a week where data are acquired should be sufficient to find the linear trend of the wound-healing by fitting five experimental points.…”

“…1 Studies have shown that it is possible, under appropriate treatments, to achieve wound closure in about 45 days.…”