ceAF Ameliorates Diabetic Wound Healing by Alleviating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress via TLR4/NF-κB and Nrf2 Pathways

Chick Early Amniotic Fluid Alleviates Dextran-Sulfate-Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice via T-Cell Receptor Pathway

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic immune disease that is difficult to cure. We recently found that chick early amniotic fluid (ceAF) has notable anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, through its active components. This study demonstrates the potential of ceAF as a protective agent against UC. UPLC-MS mass spectrometry identified key components of ceAF, including various fatty acids and nucleosides. In vitro, ceAF improved viability in DSS-induced Caco-2 cells, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α, and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. It also upregulated the tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin. In DSS-induced UC mice, ceAF treatment alleviated weight loss, colon shortening, and disease activity, while improving histopathology, crypt depth, and colonic fibrosis. Mechanistically, ceAF's anti-inflammatory effects are mediated by inhibiting the overactivation of TCR signaling through the LCK/ZAP70/LAT pathway. Our findings suggest that ceAF could be a valuable nutritional intervention for UC, potentially enhancing existing functional foods aimed at managing this condition.

Molecular mechanisms of ubiquitination in wound healing

Wound healing is a complex biological process involving multiple cellular and molecular mechanisms. Ubiquitination, a crucial post-translational modification, plays a vital role in regulating various aspects of wound healing through protein modification and degradation. This review comprehensively examines the molecular mechanisms of ubiquitination in wound healing, focusing on its regulation of inflammatory responses, macrophage polarization, angiogenesis, and the activities of fibroblasts and keratinocytes. We discuss how ubiquitination modifies key signaling pathways, including TGF-β/Smad3, NF-κB, and HIF-α, which are essential for proper wound healing. Understanding these mechanisms provides insights into potential therapeutic strategies for treating impaired wound healing, particularly in conditions such as diabetes. The review highlights recent advances in understanding ubiquitination's role in wound healing and discusses future research directions for developing targeted therapeutic approaches.

Berberine alleviates AGEs-induced ferroptosis by activating NRF2 in the skin of diabetic mice

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have adverse effects on the development of diabetic complications. Berberine (BBR), a natural alkaloid, has demonstrated its ability to promote the delayed healing of skin wounds. However, the impact of BBR on AGEs-induced ferroptosis in skin cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms remains unexplored. This study investigated the involvement of ferroptosis in AGEs-induced keratinocyte death, and the impact of BBR on ferroptosis in a db/db mouse model with long-term hyperglycemia was elucidated. A remarkable reduction in cell viability was observed along with increased malondialdehyde (MDA) production in AGEs-induced HaCaT cells. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and iron levels were elevated in cells exposed to AGEs. Meanwhile, the protein expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and ferritin light chain (FTL) was significantly decreased in AGEs-treated cells. However, pretreatment with BBR markedly protected cell viability and inhibited MDA levels, attenuating the intracellular ROS and iron levels and increased expression of GPX4 and FTL in vitro. Significantly diminished antiferroptotic effects of BBR on AGEs-treated keratinocytes were observed upon the knockdown of the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) gene. In vivo, GPX4, FTL, and FTH expression in the epidermis of diabetic mice was significantly reduced, accompanied by enhanced lipid peroxidation. Treatment with BBR effectively rescued lipid peroxidation accumulation and upregulated GPX4, FTL, FTH, and NRF2 levels in diabetic skin. Collectively, the findings indicate that ferroptosis may play a significant role in AGEs-induced keratinocyte death. BBR protects diabetic keratinocytes against ferroptosis, partly by activating NRF2.

Leukocyte Platelet-Rich Plasma-Derived Exosomes Restrained Macrophages Viability and Induced Apoptosis, NO Generation, and M1 Polarization

BACKGROUND

Chronic refractory wounds refer to wounds that cannot be repaired timely. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has significant potential in chronic wound healing therapy. The exosomes isolated from PRP were proved to exhibit more effectiveness than PRP. However, the therapeutic potential of exosomes from PRP on chronic refractory wounds remained elusive. Hence, this study aimed to clarify the action of exosomes from PRP on chronic refractory wounds by evaluating the response of macrophages to exosomes.

METHODS

Pure platelet-rich plasma (P-PRP) and leukocyte platelet-rich plasma (L-PRP) were prepared from the fasting venous blood of healthy volunteers. Exosomes were extracted from P-PRP and L-PRP using ultracentrifugation and identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and western blot. Macrophages were obtained by inducing THP-1 cells with phorbol-12-myristate-13 acetate (PMA). The internalization of exosomes into macrophages was observed utilizing confocal laser scanning microscopy after being labeled with PKH67. Cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay. Cell apoptosis was measured utilizing a flow cytometer. The polarization status of M1 and M2 macrophages were evaluated by detecting their markers. Nitric oxide (NO) detection was conducted using the commercial kit.

RESULTS

Exosomes from P-PRP and L-PRP were absorbed by macrophages. Exosomes from L-PRP restrained viability and induced apoptosis of macrophages. Besides, exosomes from P-PRP promoted M2 polarization, and exosomes from L-PRP promoted M1 polarization. Furthermore, exosomes from L-PRP promoted NO generation of macrophages.

CONCLUSION

Exosomes from L-PRP restrained viability, induced apoptosis and NO generation of macrophages, and promoted M1 polarization, while exosomes from P-PRP increased M2 polarization. The exosomes from L-PRP presented a more effective effect on macrophages than that from P-PRP, making it a promising strategy for chronic refractory wound management.

Microenvironment-responsive, multimodulated herbal polysaccharide hydrogel for diabetic foot ulcer healing

Diabetic ulcers (DUs) usually suffer from severe infections, persistent inflammation, and excessive oxidative stress during the healing process, which led to the microenvironmental alternation and severely impede DU healing, resulting in a delayed wound healing. Therefore, it is particularly important to develop a medical dressing that can address these problems simultaneously. To this end, self-healing composite hydrogels were prepared in this study utilizing Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) and Berberine (BER) with borax via borate ester bond. The chemical and mechanical properties of the BSP/BER hydrogels were characterized, and their wound healing performance was investigated in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that the BSP/BER hydrogel significantly accelerated wound healing in DU mice with the healing rate of 94.90 ± 1.81% on the 14th day by using BSP/BER5, and this outstanding performance was achieved by the multi-targeted biological functions of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, which provided favorable microenvironment for orderly recovery of the wound. Aside from exhibiting the antibacterial rate of over 90% against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, the BSP/BER5 hydrogel could significantly reduce NO levels 4.544 ± 0.32 µmol/L to exert its anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, it demonstrated a hemolysis rate and promotes cell migration capabilities at (34.92 ± 1.66%). With the above features, the developed BSP/BER hydrogel in this study could be the potential dressing for clinical treatment of DU wound.

Correlational analysis of PLIN1 with inflammation in diabetic foot ulcer wounds

BACKGROUND

The persistent presence of inflammation is a recognized pathogenic mechanisms of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). We aimed to investigate the expression of PLIN1 in tissues from DFU patients and assess its potential association with inflammation-induced damage.

METHODS

We performed transcriptome sequencing and correlation analysis of the foot skin from patients with or without DFUs. Additionally, we examined the correlation between PLIN1 and related inflammatory indicators by analyzing PLIN1 expression in tissue and serum samples and through high-glucose stimulation of keratinocytes (HaCaT cells).

RESULTS

PLIN1 is upregulated in the tissue and serum from DFU patients. Additionally, PLIN1 shows a positive correlation with leukocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin in the serum, as well as IL-1β and TNF-α in the tissues. Experiments with Cells demonstrated that reduced expression of PLIN1 leads to significantly decreased expression of iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α. PLIN1 may mediate wound inflammatory damage through the NF-κB signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that PLIN1 mediates the inflammatory damage in DFU, offering new prospects for the treatment of DFU.

Annexin A12-26 hydrogel improves healing properties in an experimental skin lesion after induction of type 1 diabetes

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by metabolic alterations that involve defects in the secretion and/or action of insulin, being responsible for several complications, such as impaired healing. Studies from our research group have shown that annexin A1 protein (AnxA1) is involved in the regulation of inflammation and cell proliferation. In light of these findings, we have developed a new technology and evaluated its effect on a wound healing in vivo model using type 1 diabetes (T1DM)-induced mice. We formulated a hydrogel containing AnxA12-26 using defined parameters such as organoleptic characteristics, pH, UV-vis spectroscopy and cytotoxicity assay. UV-vis spectroscopy confirmed the presence of the associated AnxA12-26 peptide in the three-dimensional hydrogel matrix, while the in vitro cytotoxicity assay showed excellent biocompatibility. Mice showed increased blood glucose levels, confirming the efficacy of streptozotocin (STZ) to induce T1DM. Treatment with AnxA12-26 hydrogel showed to improve diabetic wound healing, defined as complete re-epithelialization and tissue remodeling, with reduction of inflammatory infiltrate in diabetic animals. We envisage that the AnxA12-26 hydrogel, with its innovative composition and formulation be efficient on improving diabetic healing and contributing on the expansion of the therapeutic arsenal to treat diabetic wounds, at a viable cost.