Infrared microscopic imaging of cutaneous wound healing: lipid conformation in the migrating epithelial tongue

Infrared microscopic imaging has been utilized to analyze for the first time the spatial distribution of lipid structure in an ex vivo human organ culture skin wound healing model. Infrared images were collected at zero, two, four, and six days following wounding. Analysis of lipid infrared spectral properties revealed the presence of a lipid class with disordered chains within and in the vicinity of the migrating epithelial tongue. The presence of lipid ester C=O bands colocalized with the disordered chains provided evidence for the presence of carbonyl-containing lipid species. Gene array data complemented the biophysical studies and provided a biological rationale for the generation of the disordered chain species. This is the first clear observation, to our knowledge, of disordered lipid involvement in cutaneous wound healing. Several possibilities are discussed for the biological relevance of these observations

A coordinated approach to cutaneous wound healing: Vibrational microscopy and molecular biology

The repair of cutaneous wounds in the adult body involves a complex series of spatially and temporally organized processes to prevent infection and restore homeostasis. Three characteristic phases of wound repair (inflammation, proliferation including re-epithelialization and remodelling) overlap in time and space. We have utilized a human skin wound-healing model to correlate changes in genotype and pheno-type with infrared (IR) and confocal Raman spectroscopic images during the re-epithelialization of excisional wounds. The experimental protocols validated as IR images clearly delineate the keratin-rich migrating epithelial tongue from the collagen-rich wound bed. Multivariate statistical analysis of IR datasets acquired 6 days post-wounding reveal subtle spectral differences that map to distinct spatial distributions, which are correlated with immunofluorescent staining patterns of different keratin types. Images computed within collagen-rich regions expose complementary spatial patterns and identify elastin in the wound bed. The temporal sequence of events is explored through a comparison of gene array analysis with confocal Raman microscopy. Our approach demonstrates the feasibility of acquiring detailed molecular structure information from the various proteins and their subclasses involved in the wound-healing process

A tractable, simplified ex vivo human skin model of wound infection

The prevalence of infection in chronic wounds is well documented in the literature but not optimally studied due to the drawbacks of current methodologies. Here, we describe a tractable and simplified ex vivo human skin model of infection that addresses the critical drawbacks of high costs and limited translatability. Wounds were generated from excised abdominal skin from cosmetic procedures and cultured, inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus strain UAMS-1, or under aseptic conditions. After three days, the infected wounds exhibited biofilm formation and significantly impaired reepithelialization compared to the control. Additionally, promigratory and proreparative genes were significantly downregulated, while proinflammatory genes were significantly upregulated, demonstrating molecular characterizations of impaired healing as in chronic wounds. This model allows for a simplified and versatile tool for the study of wound infection and subsequent development of novel therapies

A tractable, simplified ex vivo human skin model of wound infection

The prevalence of infection in chronic wounds is well documented in the literature but not optimally studied due to the drawbacks of current methodologies. Here, we describe a tractable and simplified ex vivo human skin model of infection that addresses the critical drawbacks of high costs and limited translatability. Wounds were generated from excised abdominal skin from cosmetic procedures and cultured, inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus strain UAMS-1, or under aseptic conditions. After three days, the infected wounds exhibited biofilm formation and significantly impaired reepithelialization compared to the control. Additionally, promigratory and proreparative genes were significantly downregulated, while proinflammatory genes were significantly upregulated, demonstrating molecular characterizations of impaired healing as in chronic wounds. This model allows for a simplified and versatile tool for the study of wound infection and subsequent development of novel therapies

Catalase, a therapeutic target in the reversal of estrogen-mediated aging

Despite increasing interest in the reversal of age-related processes, there is a paucity of data regarding the effects of post-menopausal-associated estrogen loss on cellular function. We studied human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs) isolated from women younger than 45 years old (pre-menopause, pre-hASC) or older than 55 years old (post-menopause, post-hASC). In this study, we provide proof of concept that the age-related ineffective functionality of ASCs can be reversed to improve their ability in promoting tissue repair. We found reduced estrogen receptor expression, decreased estrogen receptor activation, and reduced sensitivity to 17β-estradiol in post-hASCs. This correlated with decreased antioxidants (catalase and superoxide dismutase [SOD] expression) and increased oxidative stress compared with pre-hASCs. Increasing catalase expression in post-hASCs restored estrogen receptor (ER) expression and their functional capacity to promote tissue repair as shown in human skin ex vivo wound healing and in vivo mouse model of lung injury. Our results suggest that the consequences of 17β-estradiol decline on the function of hASCs may be reversible by changing the oxidative stress/antioxidant composition. [Display omitted] Decreased expression of estrogen receptor subtypes in human post-menopausal ASCs as a result of changes in antioxidants, including catalase, results in impaired capacity for injury repair in both lung and skin. This “aging” ASC phenotype can be reversed by catalase repletion, restoring tissue-reparative phenotype of “young” ASCs

Interactions of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA300 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in polymicrobial wound infection.

Understanding the pathology resulting from Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa polymicrobial wound infections is of great importance due to their ubiquitous nature, increasing prevalence, growing resistance to antimicrobial agents, and ability to delay healing. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus USA300 is the leading cause of community-associated bacterial infections resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. We utilized a well-established porcine partial thickness wound healing model to study the synergistic effects of USA300 and P. aeruginosa on wound healing. Wound re-epithelialization was significantly delayed by mixed-species biofilms through suppression of keratinocyte growth factor 1. Pseudomonas showed an inhibitory effect on USA300 growth in vitro while both species co-existed in cutaneous wounds in vivo. Polymicrobial wound infection in the presence of P. aeruginosa resulted in induced expression of USA300 virulence factors Panton-Valentine leukocidin and α-hemolysin. These results provide evidence for the interaction of bacterial species within mixed-species biofilms in vivo and for the first time, the contribution of virulence factors to the severity of polymicrobial wound infections

Epithelialization in Wound Healing: A Comprehensive Review

Significance: Keratinocytes, a major cellular component of the epidermis, are responsible for restoring the epidermis after injury through a process termed epithelialization. This review will focus on the pivotal role of keratinocytes in epithelialization, including cellular processes and mechanisms of their regulation during re-epithelialization, and their cross talk with other cell types participating in wound healing. Recent Advances: Discoveries in epidermal stem cells, keratinocyte immune function, and the role of the epidermis as an independent neuroendocrine organ will be reviewed. Novel mechanisms of gene expression regulation important for re-epithelialization, including microRNAs and histone modifications, will also be discussed. Critical Issues: Epithelialization is an essential component of wound healing used as a defining parameter of a successful wound closure. A wound cannot be considered healed in the absence of re-epithelialization. The epithelialization process is impaired in all types of chronic wounds. Future Directions: A comprehensive understanding of the epithelialization process will ultimately lead to the development of novel therapeutic approaches to promote wound closure

US-National Institutes of Health-funded research for cutaneous wounds in 2012.

Chronic cutaneous wounds are a major burden on patients, healthcare providers, and the US healthcare system. This study, carried out in part by the Wound Healing Society's Government Regulatory Committee, aimed to evaluate the current state of National Institutes of Health funding of cutaneous wound healing-related research projects. National Institutes of Health Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures & Results system was used to identify wound healing projects funded by the National Institutes of Health in the 2012 fiscal year. Research projects focusing on cutaneous wound prevention/education, mechanisms, complications, treatment, or imaging/monitoring were included in the analysis. Ninety-one projects were identified, totaling a collective funding of $29,798,991 and median funding of$308,941. Thirteen institutes/centers from the National Institutes of Health were responsible for awarding funds; three of which (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) accounted for 60.4% of the grant funding. The predominant funding mechanisms included R01 (48.3%), R43 (14.3%), and R21 (9.9%). New applications and pre-existing applications accounted for 39.6 and 55.0% of the awarded grants, respectively. Grants awarded to investigators affiliated with universities accounted for 68.1% of grants and 25.3% were to investigators in the private sector. This analysis of current National Institutes of Health funding may facilitate more transparency of National Institutes of Health-allocated research funds and serve as an impetus to procure additional support for the field of wound healing