Epithelialization in Wound Healing: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Keratinocytes, a major cellular component of the epidermis, are responsible for restoring the epidermis after injury through a process termed epithelialization. This review will focus on the pivotal role of keratinocytes in epithelialization, including cellular processes and mechanisms of their regulation during re-epithelialization, and their cross talk with other cell types participating in wound healing. Discoveries in epidermal stem cells, keratinocyte immune function, and the role of the epidermis as an independent neuroendocrine organ will be reviewed. Novel mechanisms of gene expression regulation important for re-epithelialization, including microRNAs and histone modifications, will also be discussed. Epithelialization is an essential component of wound healing used as a defining parameter of a successful wound closure. A wound cannot be considered healed in the absence of re-epithelialization. The epithelialization process is impaired in all types of chronic wounds. A comprehensive understanding of the epithelialization process will ultimately lead to the development of novel therapeutic approaches to promote wound closure.

Matrix Metalloproteinase 10 Degradomics in Keratinocytes and Epidermal Tissue Identifies Bioactive Substrates With Pleiotropic Functions*

“…This is in agreement with previous studies, which analyzed cathepsins or MMPs using in vitro and in vivo systems (22,47,77,85). Finally, many substrates might only be accessible to MMP10-dependent processing at the very tip of the wound epidermis or the invasive front of tumors, when keratinocytes are exposed to proliferative and migratory stimuli and an altered extracellular environment (78,86). Thus, more sensitive technologies are needed to precisely monitor locally restricted protease activity in defined tissue compartments.…”

Oestrogen promotes healing in a bacterial LPS model of delayed cutaneous wound repair

“…62 A common characteristic of delayed healing wounds is epidermal hyper-proliferation and migration inhibition. 63 In the LPS model, we report markedly increased proliferation at the wound periphery coinciding with a significant delay in re-epithelialisation, accompanied by extended peripheral cell activation of the epidermis. This presumably reflects a mechanism to compensate for the lack of initial wound activation.…”

Serum Otologus dan human Epidermal Growth Factor (hEGF) Mempercepat Proliferasi dan Migrasi Keratinosit pada Proses Re-Epitelisasi

“…Tanpa proses reepitelisasi, proses penyembuhan luka tidak akan terjadi. 5,6 EGF disekresi oleh trombosit, makrofag dan fibroblas, serta berperan dalam paracrine fashion pada sel epitel. 5,7 Epidermal growth factor juga memegang peranan penting dalam pembentukan granulasi jaringan dan secara in vitro dapat merangsang migrasi dan proliferasi keratinosit.…”