1. Augmenting endogenous Wnt signaling improves skin wound healing.
- Author
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Whyte JL, Smith AA, Liu B, Manzano WR, Evans ND, Dhamdhere GR, Fang MY, Chang HY, Oro AE, and Helms JA
- Subjects
- Animals, Axin Protein genetics, Axin Protein metabolism, Ear, External injuries, Ear, External metabolism, Epidermis metabolism, Epidermis physiopathology, Gene Expression, Hair Follicle metabolism, Immunohistochemistry, Liposomes, Mice, Mice, Transgenic, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Skin injuries, Skin metabolism, Time Factors, Wnt Signaling Pathway genetics, Wnt3A Protein genetics, Wnt3A Protein metabolism, Wound Healing genetics, beta-Galactosidase genetics, beta-Galactosidase metabolism, Ear, External physiopathology, Skin physiopathology, Wnt Signaling Pathway physiology, Wound Healing physiology
- Abstract
Wnt signaling is required for both the development and homeostasis of the skin, yet its contribution to skin wound repair remains controversial. By employing Axin2(LacZ/+) reporter mice we evaluated the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of Wnt responsive cells, and found that the pattern of Wnt responsiveness varies with the hair cycle, and correlates with wound healing potential. Using Axin2(LacZ/LacZ) mice and an ear wound model, we demonstrate that amplified Wnt signaling leads to improved healing. Utilizing a biochemical approach that mimics the amplified Wnt response of Axin2(LacZ/LacZ) mice, we show that topical application of liposomal Wnt3a to a non-healing wound enhances endogenous Wnt signaling, and results in better skin wound healing. Given the importance of Wnt signaling in the maintenance and repair of skin, liposomal Wnt3a may have widespread application in clinical practice.
- Published
- 2013
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