Exogenous supply of Hsp47 triggers fibrillar collagen deposition in skin cell cultures in vitro

Continuous NPWT Regulates Fibrosis in Murine Diabetic Wound Healing

Scarring is associated with significant morbidity. The mechanical signaling factor yes-associated protein (YAP) has been linked to Engrailed-1 (En1)-lineage positive fibroblasts (EPFs), a pro-scarring fibroblast lineage, establishing a connection between mechanotransduction and fibrosis. In this study, we investigate the impact of micromechanical forces exerted through negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on the pathophysiology of fibrosis. Full-thickness excisional dorsal skin wounds were created on diabetic (db/db) mice which were treated with occlusive covering (control) or NPWT (continuous, −125 mmHg, 7 days; NPWT). Analysis was performed on tissue harvested 10 days after wounding. NPWT was associated with increased YAP (p = 0.04) but decreased En1 (p = 0.0001) and CD26 (p < 0.0001). The pro-fibrotic factors Vimentin (p = 0.04), α-SMA (p = 0.04) and HSP47 (p = 0.0008) were decreased with NPWT. Fibronectin was higher (p = 0.01) and collagen deposition lower in the NPWT group (p = 0.02). NPWT increased cellular proliferation (p = 0.002) and decreased apoptosis (p = 0.03). Western blotting demonstrated increased YAP (p = 0.02) and RhoA (p = 0.03) and decreased Caspase-3 (p = 0.03) with NPWT. NPWT uncouples YAP from EPF activation, through downregulation of Caspace-3, a pro-apoptotic factor linked to keloid formation. Mechanotransduction decreases multiple pro-fibrotic factors. Through this multifactorial process, NPWT significantly decreases fibrosis and offers promising potential as a mode to improve scar appearance.

Targeting Fibronectin to Overcome Remyelination Failure in Multiple Sclerosis: The Need for Brain- and Lesion-Targeted Drug Delivery

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disease with unknown etiology that can be characterized by the presence of demyelinated lesions. Prevailing treatment protocols in MS rely on the modulation of the inflammatory process but do not impact disease progression. Remyelination is an essential factor for both axonal survival and functional neurological recovery but is often insufficient. The extracellular matrix protein fibronectin contributes to the inhibitory environment created in MS lesions and likely plays a causative role in remyelination failure. The presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) hinders the delivery of remyelination therapeutics to lesions. Therefore, therapeutic interventions to normalize the pathogenic MS lesion environment need to be able to cross the BBB. In this review, we outline the multifaceted roles of fibronectin in MS pathogenesis and discuss promising therapeutic targets and agents to overcome fibronectin-mediated inhibition of remyelination. In addition, to pave the way for clinical use, we reflect on opportunities to deliver MS therapeutics to lesions through the utilization of nanomedicine and discuss strategies to deliver fibronectin-directed therapeutics across the BBB. The use of well-designed nanocarriers with appropriate surface functionalization to cross the BBB and target the lesion sites is recommended.

Cytocompatibility Properties of an Herbal Compound Solution Support I n vitro Wound Healing

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytocompatibility of an herbal extract compound oral rinse [StellaLife VEGA (SLife)] against relevant human cellular models of oral surgical wound healing. SL was compared to the gold standard for peri-/post-operative oral surgical use, i.e., Chlorhexidine (CHX) and to a commonly utilized essential-oil (EO) based antiseptic rinse. Fibroblasts and primary oral stem cells of the apical papilla (SCAPs) were employed to assess its comparative cytotoxicity to the active comparator antiseptic rinses and its effects on wound healing in vitro. In cytotoxicity assays, multiple timepoints were tested ranging from clinically relevant of 60-s rinsing to protracted challenge of up to 5 min, to determine dose-dependent toxicity. The SLife group consistently demonstrated minimal cytotoxicity as compared to active comparators across experimental timepoints and different cells lines. At concentrations up to 20% v/v SLife-challenged fibroblasts and SCAPs demonstrated no significant toxicity as compared to unstimulated controls (p > 0.05). When assessing wound healing, a scratch wound assay revealed significantly accelerated cell migration for SLife as compared to CHX (p < 0.05). Notably, all active comparator antiseptic rinses affected wound healing responses by significantly reducing total collagen deposition after intermittent “rinsing” intervals that simulated post-surgical oral rinsing. Nonetheless, intermittent as well as continuous challenge of cells with SLife had a positive effect in functional collagen assays. An herbal extract compound-based oral rinse was found to be cytocompatible to cells critical to oral wound healing and to promote fibroblast migration and differentiation, contrary to existing antiseptic rinses that lack selective cytotoxicity.