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Cutaneous wound healing is a complex process that encompasses alterations in all aspects of the skin including the extracellular matrix (ECM). ECM consist of large structural proteins such as collagens and elastin as well as smaller proteins with mainly regulative properties called matricellular proteins. Matricellular proteins bind to structural proteins and their functions include but are not limited to interaction with cell surface receptors, cytokines, or protease and evoking a cellular response. The signaling initiated by matricellular proteins modulates differentiation and proliferation of cells having an impact on the tissue regeneration. In this review we give an overview of the matricellular proteins that have been found to be involved in cutaneous wound healing and summarize the information known to date about their functions in this process., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Cárdenas-León, Mäemets-Allas, Klaas, Lagus, Kankuri and Jaks.)

Thrombospondin-4 (THBS4) is a non-structural extracellular matrix molecule associated with tissue regeneration and a variety of pathological processes characterized by increased cell proliferation and migration. However, the mechanisms of how THBS4 regulates cell behavior as well as the pathways contributing to its effects have remained largely unexplored. In the present study we investigated the role of THBS4 in skin regeneration both in vitro and in vivo . We found that THBS4 expression was upregulated in the dermal compartment of healing skin wounds in humans as well as in mice. Application of recombinant THBS4 protein promoted cutaneous wound healing in mice and selectively stimulated migration of primary fibroblasts as well as proliferation of keratinocytes in vitro . By using a combined proteotranscriptomic pathway analysis approach we discovered that β-catenin acted as a hub for THBS4-dependent cell signaling and likely plays a key role in promoting its downstream effects. Our results suggest that THBS4 is an important contributor to wound healing and its incorporation into novel wound healing therapies may be a promising strategy for treatment of cutaneous wounds., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Klaas, Mäemets-Allas, Heinmäe, Lagus, Cárdenas-León, Arak, Eller, Kingo, Kankuri and Jaks.)

We describe a case of Lichtenberg Figures (LFs) following an electrical injury from a high-voltage switchgear in a 47 year-old electrician. LFs, also known as ferning pattern or keraunographic markings, are a pathognomonic skin sign for lightning strike injuries. Their true pathophysiology has remained a mystery and only once before described following an electical injury. The aim was to characterise the tissue response of LFs by performing untargeted non-labelled proteomics and immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded sections of skin biopsies taken from the area of LFs at presentation and at 3 months follow-up. Our results demonstrated an increase in dermal T-cells and greatly increased expression of the iron-binding glycoprotein lactoferrin by keratinocytes and lymphocytes. These changes in the LF-affected skin were associated with extravasation of red blood cells from dermal vessels. Our results provide an initial molecular and cellular insight into the tissue response associated with LFs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Lindford, Juteau, Jaks, Klaas, Lagus, Vuola and Kankuri.)