Objective To study the leptin-mediated intracellular signal pathways and their effects on wound healing.Methods The literature was reviewed extensively, concerning the physical and chemical characters of leptin, the mechanism of its receptor action, the receptor-related intracellular signal pathways and their roles on wound healing. Results Leptin was a protein hormone expressed by ob gene with relative molecular mass 16×103, it could activate the main singal pathways such as Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription, mitogenactivated protein kinases and phosphoinositide-3-kinase pathways through binding with its specific receptor, to participate in the modulation of multiple functions including energy metabolism, weight balance and wound healing. Leptin receptors were widely distributed in various tissues, which suggest the multiple functions of leptin. Local leptin expression was increased after skin injured, and it could stimulate keratinocytes proliferation, epithelialization, fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis, resulting in accelarated wound repair. Leptin expression was significantly increased after mucosal injury or bacteria infections, leading to accelarated mucosal repair through modulation of mucosal glandular secretion, improvment of mucosal blood flow, and synergistic action with endothelin-1.Conclusion Leptin can promote wound healing through activating its receptor-related intracellular signal pathways.
Objective To investigated the distribution of epidermal stem cells in rat fullthickness wound tissues during the wound healing process and toelucidate the roles of epidermal stem cells in wound repair in vivo.Methods Eighty circular fullthickness wounds were produced on both sides of the back in 20 male Wistar rats labeled with BrdU 60 days previously (4 wounds in each rat). BrdU, β1 integrin and keratin 19 (K19) were employed to determine the epidermal stem cells with SP immunohistochemical methods, and the epithelialization wasdetermined with routine histological methods of HE staining on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 21st days after operation.Results No cells with positive immunostaining for β1 integrin, K19 and BrdU were found in granulation tissue of woundin both groups during the healing process. However, a few scattered β1 integrin and K19 positive cells were found within the stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum of the epidermis on the wound edges on the 3rd day post-injury. And these positive cells gradually became more and more in number, and mostly concentrated on the border of wound edges till the wounds healed. In addition, the number of positive cells for β1 integrin and K19 in the infected wounds was less than that in non-infected wounds. These positive cells for β1 integrin and K19 staining on the wound edge were also positively stained with BrdU in the cellular nuclei. Conclusion The above results indicate that ectopia of epidermal stem cells present a major function during wound epithelialization.
Objective To observe the effect of angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ) or/and transforming growth factor β(TGF-β) on human skin fibroblast proliferation, and to explore the possible signaling mechanism involved in their actions. Methods Cultured human skin fibroblasts were treated with different concentrations of Ang Ⅱ (1×10-10 , 1×10-9，1×10-8 and 1×10-7 mol/L) , TGF-β(0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 ng/ml), and 1×10 -10 mol/L Ang Ⅱ＋0.1 ng/ml TGF-β, respectively. The cell proliferation was determined by3Hthymidine (3H-TdR) incorporation. The phosphorylation of extracellular signalregulated kinases (ERK) was detected by Western blot. Results Ang Ⅱ at 1×10-9，1×10-8，1× 10-7 mol/L or TGF-β at 1.0, 10.0 ng/ml increased 3H-TdR incorporation into cultured skin fibroblasts dose-dependently. Ang Ⅱ and TGF-β at lower doses (1×10-10 mol/L and 0.1 ng/ml, respectively) did not affect 3H-TdR incorporation into fibroblasts (Pgt;0.05), whereas co-administration of both Ang Ⅱ and TGF-β at these doses significantly increased 3H-TdR incorporation intofibroblasts(Plt;0.05). Ang Ⅱ at 1×10-7 mol/L or TGF-β at 10.0 ng/ml significantly increased ERK phosphorylation of fibroblasts after stimulation (Plt;0.01). Smaller doses of Ang Ⅱ (1×10-10 mol/L) or TGF-β (0.1 ng/ml) did not influence ERKphosphorylation of fibroblasts, whereas co-administration of Ang II and TGF-β at these doses significantly enhanced ERK phosphorylation (Plt;0.05). Total protein levels of ERK did not differ at different doses. Conclusion These results indicate that Ang Ⅱ and TGF-β synergistically increase skin fibroblast proliferation, which is at least partly via enhancement of ERK activity.