Fibroblast cells, which contribute to the formation of connective tissue but are also involved in scarring
DR TORSTEN WITTMANN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
New findings on the healing process of mouth wounds may lead to the development of treatments that prevent permanent scarring or disfigurement of the skin.
Dr. Ophir Klein from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, highlights the significant impact of scars on millions of individuals resulting from injuries, surgeries, or burns. Apart from cosmetic concerns, scars can also affect skin function, such as restricting movement in areas with large scars.
To delve into the reason behind scarless healing of mouth wounds, researchers conducted experiments on mice, creating wounds both inside the mouth and on the face. Tissue samples collected during the healing process revealed that fibroblasts, cells involved in scarring, exhibited higher activity in genes encoding GAS6 and AXL proteins in mouth wounds compared to skin wounds. These proteins play a role in promoting cell growth, migration, and survival.
The study also uncovered that the GAS6-AXL pathway suppressed the levels of FAK protein, responsible for scar formation in wounds. This pathway’s involvement in scarless wound healing was a novel discovery, according to Dr. Klein.
In a subsequent experiment, researchers applied a solution containing GAS6 to facial wounds on mice, resulting in reduced FAK levels and less scarring compared to untreated wounds. Dr. Jason Wong from the University of Manchester commended the study’s demonstration of scar reduction through pathway enhancement.
Dr. Ines Sequeira from Queen Mary University of London sees the research as a step towards a scar-free future. However, she emphasizes the need for further testing in larger animals like pigs before considering human trials, given the differences in skin biology between mice and humans.
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