Dermal fibroblast-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) synergizes with keratinocytes in promoting re-epithelization and scarless healing of skin wounds: Towards optimized skin tissue engineering

Bibliographic Details
Title: Dermal fibroblast-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) synergizes with keratinocytes in promoting re-epithelization and scarless healing of skin wounds: Towards optimized skin tissue engineering
Authors: Xiangyu Dong, Han Xiang, Jiajia Li, Ailing Hao, Hao Wang, Yannian Gou, Aohua Li, Saidur Rahaman, Yiheng Qiu, Jiahao Li, Ou Mei, Jiamin Zhong, Wulin You, Guowei Shen, Xingye Wu, Jingjing Li, Yi Shu, Lewis L. Shi, Yi Zhu, Russell R. Reid, Tong-Chuan He, Jiaming Fan
Source: Bioactive Materials, Vol 47, Iss , Pp 1-17 (2025)
Publisher Information: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd., 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Collection: LCC:Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
LCC:Biology (General)
Subject Terms: Dermal fibroblasts, Reversible immortalization, Extracellular matrix, Keratinocytes, Scarless wound healing, Skin tissue engineering, Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials, TA401-492, Biology (General), QH301-705.5
More Details: Skin serves as the first-order protective barrier against the environment and any significant disruptions in skin integrity must be promptly restored. Despite significant advances in therapeutic strategies, effective management of large chronic skin wounds remains a clinical challenge. Dermal fibroblasts are the primary cell type responsible for remodeling the extracellular matrix (ECM) in wound healing. Here, we investigated whether ECM derived from exogenous fibroblasts, in combination with keratinocytes, promoted scarless cutaneous wound healing. To overcome the limited lifespan of primary dermal fibroblasts, we established reversibly immortalized mouse dermal fibroblasts (imDFs), which were non-tumorigenic, expressed dermal fibroblast markers, and were responsive to TGF-β1 stimulation. The decellularized ECM prepared from both imDFs and primary dermal fibroblasts shared similar expression profiles of extracellular matrix proteins and promoted the proliferation of keratinocyte (iKera) cells. The imDFs-derived ECM solicited no local immune response. While the ECM and to a lesser extent imDFs enhanced skin wound healing with excessive fibrosis, a combination of imDFs-derived ECM and iKera cells effectively promoted the re-epithelization and scarless healing of full-thickness skin wounds. These findings strongly suggest that dermal fibroblast-derived ECM, not fibroblasts themselves, may synergize with keratinocytes in regulating scarless healing and re-epithelialization of skin wounds. Given its low immunogenic nature, imDFs-derived ECM should be a valuable resource of skin-specific biomaterial for wound healing and skin tissue engineering.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2452-199X
Relation: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X2400567X; https://doaj.org/toc/2452-199X
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.12.030
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/18815b5c84c341f7af5fc85388925245
Accession Number: edsdoj.18815b5c84c341f7af5fc85388925245
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:2452199X
DOI:10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.12.030
Published in:Bioactive Materials
Language:English