1.Regulatory effects of moxibustion at "Guanyuan" (CV4) on extragonadal estrogen and estrogen receptors in ovariectomized rats.
Qingchen ZHOU ; Xinyan GAO ; Kun LIU ; Bing ZHU
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2025;45(12):1770-1776
OBJECTIVE:
To observe the regulatory effects of moxibustion at "Guanyuan" (CV4) on the synthesis of extragonadal estradiol (E2) and the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) in ovariectomized rats, aiming to explore the mechanism of moxibustion treatment for perimenopausal syndrome.
METHODS:
Forty-eight SD female rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a model group and a moxibustion group, with 16 rats in each group. The model group and the moxibustion group underwent bilateral ovariectomy by the back incision method. Ten days after surgery, moxibustion was applied at "Guanyuan" (CV4) in the moxibustion group, 30 min each time, once a day for 10 days. After intervention, in the 3 groups, the body mass and uterus weight were measured; the serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and E2, as well as the skin and hypothalamus levels of E2 were detected by ELISA; the mRNA expression of aromatase (P450arom) in the skin and hypothalamus was detected by real-time PCR; the expression of ERα and ERβ in the hypothalamus, skin, and uterus was observed by immunofluorescence staining, and the density of positive cells was calculated using the Aipathwell digital pathology image analysis software.
RESULTS:
Compared with the sham-operation group, the body mass was increased (P<0.01) and the uterus weight was decreased (P<0.001) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the body mass was decreased in the moxibustion group (P<0.01). Compared with the sham-operation group, in the model group, the serum, hypothalamus and skin levels of E2 were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), while the serum levels of FSH and LH were increased (P<0.01); the expression of ERα and ERβ in the skin, hypothalamus and uterus was decreased (P<0.05, P<0.001). Compared with the model group, in the moxibustion group, the serum levels of E2 and LH, as well as the hypothalamus and skin levels of E2 were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01); the mRNA expression of P450arom, as well as the expression of ERα and ERβ in the skin and hypothalamus were increased (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Moxibustion at "Guanyuan" (CV4) reduces the body mass of ovariectomized rats by enhancing the synthesis of extragonadal E2 and increasing the expression of ER in the skin and hypothalamus, yet it does not alleviate uterine atrophy.
Animals
;
Female
;
Moxibustion
;
Rats
;
Ovariectomy
;
Acupuncture Points
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Humans
;
Receptors, Estrogen/genetics*
;
Estrogens/metabolism*
;
Estradiol/metabolism*
;
Hypothalamus/metabolism*
;
Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood*
;
Aromatase/genetics*
;
Luteinizing Hormone/blood*
;
Skin/metabolism*
2.Systemic comparison of molecular characteristics in different skin fibroblast senescent models.
Xiaokai FANG ; Shan ZHANG ; Mingyang WU ; Yang LUO ; Xingyu CHEN ; Yuan ZHOU ; Yu ZHANG ; Xiaochun LIU ; Xu YAO
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(17):2180-2191
BACKGROUND:
Senescent human skin primary fibroblast (FB) models have been established for studying aging-related, proliferative, and inflammatory skin diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the transcriptome characteristics of human primary dermal FBs from children and the elderly with four senescence models.
METHODS:
Human skin primary FBs were obtained from healthy children (FB-C) and elderly donors (FB-E). Senescence models were generated by ultraviolet B irradiation (FB-UVB), D-galactose stimulation (FB-D-gal), atazanavir treatment (FB-ATV), and replication exhaustion induction (FB-P30). Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, co-culturing with immune cells, and bulk RNA sequencing were used for systematic comparisons of the models.
RESULTS:
In comparison with FB-C, FB-E showed elevated expression of senescence-related genes related to the skin barrier and extracellular matrix, proinflammatory factors, chemokines, oxidative stress, and complement factors. In comparison with FB-E, FB-UVB and FB-ATV showed higher levels of senescence and expression of the genes related to the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), and their shaped immune microenvironment highly facilitated the activation of downstream immune cells, including T cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells. FB-P30 was most similar to FB-E in terms of general transcriptome features, such as FB migration and proliferation, and aging-related characteristics. FB-D-gal showed the lowest expression levels of senescence-related genes. In comparisons with the single-cell RNA sequencing results, FB-E showed almost complete simulation of the transcriptional spectrum of FBs in elderly patients with atopic dermatitis, followed by FB-P30 and FB-UVB. FB-E and FB-P30 showed higher similarity with the FBs in keloids.
CONCLUSIONS
Each senescent FB model exhibited different characteristics. In addition to showing upregulated expression of natural senescence features, FB-UVB and FB-ATV showed high expression levels of senescence-related genes, including those involved in the SASP, and FB-P30 showed the greatest similarity with FB-E. However, D-galactose-stimulated FBs did not clearly present aging characteristics.
Humans
;
Fibroblasts/drug effects*
;
Cellular Senescence/physiology*
;
Skin/metabolism*
;
Child
;
Transcriptome/genetics*
;
Aged
;
Ultraviolet Rays
;
Cells, Cultured
;
Galactose/pharmacology*
3.Overexpression of multimerin-2 promotes cutaneous melanoma cell invasion and migration and is associated with poor prognosis.
Jinlong PANG ; Xinli ZHAO ; Zhen ZHANG ; Haojie WANG ; Xingqi ZHOU ; Yumei YANG ; Shanshan LI ; Xiaoqiang CHANG ; Feng LI ; Xian LI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(7):1479-1489
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the inhibitory effect of multimerin-2 (MMRN2) overexpression on growth and metastasis of cutaneous melanoma cells.
METHODS:
Clinical data of patients with cutaneous melanoma were obtained from the GEO database to compare MMRN2 expressions between normal and tumor tissues. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed using the STRING database, and the intersecting genes from GEPIA2.0 were subjected to GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. The prognostic relevance of MMRN2 expression level was assessed using Cox regression and "timeROC". The correlations of MMRN2 expression level with immune infiltration and angiogenesis-related genes were analyzed using GSCA database and the ssGSEA algorithm. Colony-forming assay, Transwell assay, and wound healing assay were used to examine the changes in proliferation and migration of cultured cutaneous melanoma cells following MMRN2 knockdown. In a mouse model bearing cutaneous melanoma xenograft, the effect of MMRN2 knockdown on vital organ pathologies, survival of the mice and GM-CSF, CXCL9, and TGF‑β1 protein expressions were analyzed.
RESULTS:
MMRN2 was significantly upregulated in metastatic cutaneous melanoma (P<0.001). Protein interaction network analysis identified 15 intersecting genes, which were enriched in endothelium development and cell-cell junctions. In patients with cutaneous melanoma, a high MMRN2 expression was correlated with a poor prognosis, an advanced T stage, a greater Breslow depth, and ulceration (P<0.05). MMRN2 expression level was strongly correlated with 24 immune cell types (P<0.001), fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and expressions of the pro-angiogenic genes (KCNJ8, SLCO2A1, NRP1, and COL3A1; P<0.001). In cultured B16F10 cells, MMRN2 knockdown significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion and caused remo-deling of the immunosuppressive microenvironment.
CONCLUSIONS
MMRN2 overexpression drives progression of cutaneous melanoma by enhancing tumor metastasis, angiogenesis and immune evasion, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for melanomas.
Humans
;
Melanoma/metabolism*
;
Animals
;
Cell Movement
;
Prognosis
;
Skin Neoplasms/metabolism*
;
Mice
;
Cell Proliferation
;
Neoplasm Invasiveness
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Protein Interaction Maps
4.Skin organoid transplantation promotes tissue repair with scarless in frostbite.
Wenwen WANG ; Pu LIU ; Wendi ZHU ; Tianwei LI ; Ying WANG ; Yujie WANG ; Jun LI ; Jie MA ; Ling LENG
Protein & Cell 2025;16(4):240-259
Frostbite is the most common cold injury and is caused by both immediate cold-induced cell death and the gradual development of localized inflammation and tissue ischemia. Delayed healing of frostbite often leads to scar formation, which not only causes psychological distress but also tends to result in the development of secondary malignant tumors. Therefore, a rapid healing method for frostbite wounds is urgently needed. Herein, we used a mouse skin model of frostbite injury to evaluate the recovery process after frostbite. Moreover, single-cell transcriptomics was used to determine the patterns of changes in monocytes, macrophages, epidermal cells, and fibroblasts during frostbite. Most importantly, human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived skin organoids combined with gelatin-hydrogel were constructed for the treatment of frostbite. The results showed that skin organoid treatment significantly accelerated wound healing by reducing early inflammation after frostbite and increasing the proportions of epidermal stem cells. Moreover, in the later stage of wound healing, skin organoids reduced the overall proportions of fibroblasts, significantly reduced fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition by regulating the integrin α5β1-FAK pathway, and remodeled the extracellular matrix (ECM) through degradation and reassembly mechanisms, facilitating the restoration of physiological ECM and reducing the abundance of ECM associated with abnormal scar formation. These results highlight the potential application of organoids for promoting the reversal of frostbite-related injury and the recovery of skin functions. This study provides a new therapeutic alternative for patients suffering from disfigurement and skin dysfunction caused by frostbite.
Animals
;
Organoids/metabolism*
;
Mice
;
Humans
;
Wound Healing
;
Frostbite/metabolism*
;
Skin/pathology*
;
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/cytology*
;
Cicatrix/pathology*
;
Fibroblasts/metabolism*
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Extracellular Matrix/metabolism*
;
Male
5.ALKBH5 exacerbates psoriatic dermatitis in mice by promoting angiogenesis.
Chengfang ZHANG ; Fei LI ; Bao CHAI ; Jian JIANG ; Yinlian ZHANG ; Xuemei LI ; Jingyu ZHANG ; Yuqiong HUANG ; Zilin JIN ; Yixuan Wang WAN ; Suwen LIU ; Nan YU ; Hongxiang CHEN
Frontiers of Medicine 2025;19(4):653-664
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, and its pathogenesis is largely modulated by abnormal angiogenesis. Previous research has indicated that AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5), an important demethylase affecting N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, plays a role in regulating angiogenesis in cardiovascular and eye diseases. Our present study found that ALKBH5 was upregulated and co-localized with cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) in the skin of IMQ group compared with control group. ALKBH5-deficient mice decreased IMQ-induced psoriatic dermatitis and exhibited histological improvements, including decreased epidermal thickness, hyperkeratosis, numbers of dermal capillary vessels and inflammatory cell infiltration. ALKBH5-KO mice alleviated angiogenesis in psoriatic lesions by downregulating the protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. Additionally, the expression of ALKBH5 was significantly upregulated in IL-17A-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), which further promoted the expression of angiogenesis-related cytokines and endothelial cell proliferation. Cell proliferation and angiogenesis were suppressed in ALKBH5 knockdown group, whereas ALKBH5 overexpression promoted these processes. The regulation of angiogenesis in HUVECs by ALKBH5 was facilitated through the AKT-mTOR pathway. Collectively, ALKBH5 plays a pivotal role in psoriatic dermatitis and angiogenesis, which may offer a new potential targets for treating psoriasis.
Animals
;
Psoriasis/chemically induced*
;
Mice
;
Humans
;
Neovascularization, Pathologic/genetics*
;
Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism*
;
AlkB Homolog 5, RNA Demethylase/genetics*
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism*
;
TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*
;
Cell Proliferation
;
Mice, Knockout
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Signal Transduction
;
Male
;
Skin/blood supply*
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Angiogenesis
6.Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes loaded with miR-132-3p promote skin wound healing.
Shuyue MENG ; Xiaoning LI ; Zhao YANG ; Lei WANG
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(8):3110-3121
Chronic non-healing wounds significantly impair patient rehabilitation and remain a critical clinical challenge. Stem cell-derived exosomes, owing to their biocompatibility and physiological activity, have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach in regenerative medicine. Beyond their intrinsic wound-healing properties, exosomes are increasingly explored as carriers for small-molecule drugs to enhance synergistic treatment effects. Although microRNAs (miRNAs) exhibit potential in promoting cell proliferation and re-epithelialization, their clinical application is hindered by poor stability. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of miR-132-3p-loaded human umbilical mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (miR-132-3p@UMSC-EXOs) on human foreskin fibroblast-1 (HFF-1). Our findings demonstrated that miR-132-3p@UMSC-EXOs significantly enhanced proliferation and migration of HFF-1, while reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels compared with unloaded exosomes. Furthermore, qRT-PCR and Western blotting analyses revealed that miR-132-3p@UMSC-EXOs modulated the expression of genes associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and inflammation, suggesting their potential to upregulate collagen synthesis and improve ECM metabolism. These results highlight the therapeutic promise of miR-132-3p@UMSC-EXOs in accelerating wound healing.
Humans
;
MicroRNAs/pharmacology*
;
Exosomes/metabolism*
;
Mesenchymal Stem Cells/cytology*
;
Wound Healing
;
Umbilical Cord/cytology*
;
Cell Proliferation
;
Fibroblasts/cytology*
;
Skin/injuries*
;
Cell Movement
;
Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*
;
Cells, Cultured
7.Fabrication and evaluation of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride microneedles based on 3D printing.
Yuanke YANG ; Xiaolu HAN ; Xianfu LI ; Xiaoxuan HONG ; Shanshan YANG ; Chunyan LIU ; Zengming WANG ; Aiping ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(8):3214-3227
Compared with conventional transdermal drug delivery systems, dissolving microneedles significantly enhance drug bioavailability by penetrating the stratum corneum barrier and achieving intradermal drug delivery. In order to improve the transdermal bioavailability of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride, in this study, a novel microneedle delivery system was developed for dexmedetomidine hydrochloride based on 3D printing combined with micro-molding. By systematically optimizing the microneedle geometrical parameters, array arrangement, and preparation process parameters, we determined the optimal ratio of drug-carrying matrix as 15% PVP (polyvinyl pyrrolidone) K90. The microneedles exhibited significant drug loading gradients, with mean content of (209.99±27.56) μg/patch, (405.31±30.31) μg/patch, and (621.61±34.43) μg/patch. They showed a regular pyramidal structure under SEM and handheld electron microscopy, and their mechanical strength allowed effective penetration into the stratum corneum. The surface contact angles were all < 90°, indicating excellent hydrophilicity. The microneedles dissolved completely within 10 min after skin insertion, achieving a cumulative release rate of 90% (Higuchi model, r=0.996) during 2 hours of in vitro transdermal permeation. The cytotoxicity test and hemolysis test verified good biocompatibility. Pharmacodynamic evaluation showed that the microneedle group demonstrated pain-relieving effect within 15 min, with the pain threshold at the time point of 60 min being 3 times that in the transdermal cream group. The microneedle system developed in this study not only offers an efficient drug delivery option for patients but also establishes an innovative platform for rapid percutaneous delivery of hydrophilic drugs, demonstrating significant potential in perioperative pain management.
Dexmedetomidine/pharmacokinetics*
;
Printing, Three-Dimensional
;
Needles
;
Drug Delivery Systems/methods*
;
Administration, Cutaneous
;
Animals
;
Microinjections/instrumentation*
;
Skin Absorption
;
Skin/metabolism*
8.Effect of YTH Domain Family Protein 2 on the Sodium Arsenite-Induced Malignant Transformation of Skin Cells.
Wen-Xiao XIONG ; Tian-He ZHAO ; Ke-Yan LONG ; Zun-Zhen ZHANG
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2025;47(3):333-342
Objective To investigate the effect of liquid-liquid phase separation(LLPS)of YTH domain family protein 2(YTHDF2)on the sodium arsenite-induced malignant transformation of skin cells,providing a new intervention target for the prevention and control of sodium arsenite-induced carcinogenesis.Methods The HaCaT cell model of malignant transformation was constructed by continuous treatment with 1 μmol/L sodium arsenite for 22 weeks,including cells with normal YTHDF2 LLPS(YTHDF2-wt)and cells with inhibited YTHDF2 LLPS(YTHDF2-mut).Confocal microscopy was employed to observe and characterize the LLPS droplets formed by YTHDF2 during sodium arsenite-induced malignant transformation of skin cells.Cell proliferation,scratch healing,and colony formation assays were performed to detect malignant phenotypes.Western blotting,quantitative reverse transcription PCR,and immunofluorescence experiments were conducted to examine the effects of YTHDF2 LLPS on the mRNA and protein levels of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten(PTEN)during sodium arsenite-induced malignant transformation of skin cells.Results After 4 weeks of sodium arsenite treatment,LLPS droplets of YTHDF2 appeared in YTHDF2-wt cells,and the number of droplets gradually increased as the treatment time was prolonged(F=35.252,P<0.001),while no phase-separated droplets were observed in YTHDF2-mut cells.Compared with YTHDF2-mut cells,YTHDF2-wt cells showed enhanced proliferation at the time points of 48 h(t=3.654,P=0.006)and 72 h(t=5.458,P<0.001)after 22 weeks of sodium arsenite treatment.The scratch healing rate of YTHDF2-wt cells was increased at the 8th(t=12.137,P<0.001)and 22th(t=4.484,P=0.011)weeks of sodium arsenite treatment.The number of colonies formed by YTHDF2-wt cells was higher at the 4th(t=3.365,P=0.027),8th(t=5.580,P=0.005),and 22th(t=3.328,P=0.029)weeks of sodium arsenite treatment.Compared with YTHDF2-mut cells,YTHDF2-wt cells showed down-regulated protein(t=-3.119,P=0.036)and mRNA(t=4.051,P=0.015) levels of PTEN after 22 weeks of sodium arsenite treatment.Immunofluorescence results showed that after 4 weeks of sodium arsenite treatment,YTHDF2 LLPS droplets in YTHDF2-wt cells were localized to stress granules,translation-related membrane-less organelles.Conclusions During sodium arsenite-induced malignant transformation of skin cells,YTHDF2 undergoes LLPS and localizes to stress granules,translation-related membrane-less organelles.YTHDF2 LLPS participates in sodium arsenite-induced malignant transformation of skin cells by down-regulating the mRNA level of the key tumor suppressor PTEN.
Arsenites/toxicity*
;
Sodium Compounds/toxicity*
;
Humans
;
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/drug effects*
;
PTEN Phosphohydrolase/metabolism*
;
Cell Proliferation
;
Skin/cytology*
;
RNA-Binding Proteins
;
Skin Neoplasms/chemically induced*
;
Cell Line
9.Mechanism of tannins from Galla chinensis cream in promoting skin wound healing in rats based on FAK/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.
Wen YI ; Zi-Yi YAN ; Meng-Qiong SHI ; Ying ZHANG ; Jie LIU ; Qian YI ; Hai-Ming TANG ; Yi-Wen LIU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(2):480-497
This study investigated the effects and action mechanism of tannins from Galla chinensis cream(TGCC) on the skin wound of rat tail. Male Sprague Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into a control group, model group, model+low-dose TGCC(50 mg per rat) group, model+high-dose TGCC group(100 mg per rat), and model+TGC+FAK inhibitor(Y15) cream(100 mg+10 mg per rat) group, with 10 rats in each group. After the rat tail skin injury model was successfully constructed, in the treatment group, corresponding drugs were applied to the wound surface, while in the control and model groups, the same amount of cream base as the TGCC group was applied by the same method. Then, sterile gauze was wrapped around the wound edge, and these operations were performed three times a day for 28 consecutive days. The wound healing status at the third, seventh, eleventh, fourteenth, twenty-first, and twenty-eighth days was recorded, and the wound healing rate and healing time were calculated. On the day after the last dose of medication, rat serum and tail skin wound tissue were collected for analyzing the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), creatinine(CREA), urea, reactive oxygen species(ROS), interferon gamma(IFN-γ), interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-4, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α, as well as catalase(CAT), glutathione(GSH), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), malondialdehyde(MDA), myeloperoxidase(MPO), superoxide dismutase(SOD), total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1(CD31), and leukocyte differentiation antigen 34(CD34) in the wound tissue of rat tail skin. Hematoxylin-eosin, Masson, and sirius red staining were used to observe the morphological changes in the wound tissue of rat tail skin. The thickness of the epidermis, the number of fibroblasts and blood vessels, and the contents of collagen fibers, typeⅠ collagen(COLⅠ), and COLⅢ were calculated. The mRNA expressions of keratin 10(KRT10), KRT14, vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), fibroblast growth factor(FGF), epidermal growth factor(EGF), CD31, CD34, matrix metallopeptidase-2(MMP-2), MMP-9, COLⅠ, COLⅢ, desmin, fibroblast specific protein 1(FSP1), IFN-γ, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 in skin wound tissue were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR). Western blot was utilized to detect the protein expressions of KRT10, KRT14, VEGF, FGF, EGF, MMP-2, MMP-9, COLⅠ, COLⅢ, desmin, FSP1, focal adhesion kinase(FAK), phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase(p-FAK), phosphatidylin-ositol-3-kinase(PI3K), phosphorylated phosphatidylin-ositol-3-kinase(p-PI3K), protein kinase B(Akt), phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-Akt), mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR), and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin(p-mTOR). The results manifest that TGCC can dramatically elevate the healing rate of rat tail wounds and shorten wound healing time. Besides, it can reduce serum ROS levels, the contents of MDA, MPO, and LDH in the rat skin wound tissue, as well as the serum IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels and the mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the skin wound tissue. It can elevate the activities of CAT, GSH, SOD, and T-AOC in wound tissue, the IL-4 and IL-10 contents in serum, and the mRNA expressions of IL-4 and IL-10 in the wound tissue. In addition, TGGC can inhibit inflammatory cell infiltration and increase the epidermal thickness, counts of fibroblasts and blood vessels, and contents of collagen fibers, COLⅠ, and COLⅢ. Besides, TGCC can elevate the mRNA and protein expressions of epidermal differentiation markers(KRT10 and KRT14), endothelial cell markers(CD31 and CD34), angiogenesis and fibroblast proliferation, differentiation markers(VEGF, FGF, EGF, COLⅠ, COLⅢ, desmin, and FSP1), reduce the mRNA and protein expressions of gelatinases(MMP-2 and MMP-9), and increase protein expressions of p-FAK, p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-mTOR, as well as ratios of p-FAK/FAK, p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, and p-mTOR/mTOR. These results suggest that TGCC can significantly facilitate skin wound healing, and its mechanism may be related to the activation of the FAK/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, inhibition of inflammatory cell infiltration in skin wound tissue, elevation of epidermal thickness, counts of fibroblasts and vessels, and contents of collagen fiber, COLⅠ, and COLⅢ, and reduction of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions, thus accelerating wound healing.
Animals
;
Male
;
Wound Healing/drug effects*
;
Rats
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics*
;
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics*
;
Skin/metabolism*
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics*
;
Tannins/pharmacology*
;
Humans
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Focal Adhesion Kinase 1/genetics*
10.Application study of platelet-rich plasma combined with arterial supercharging technique to enhance survival of ischemic cross-body region skin flaps in rabbits.
Huajian ZHOU ; Mingyu JIA ; Zhihong CHEN ; Yangyang LIU ; Kuankuan ZHANG ; Zhonglian ZHU ; Min WU
Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery 2025;39(7):873-880
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effects of combined platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and arterial supercharging technique on the survival rate and functional restoration of cross-body region skin flaps in rabbits.
METHODS:
Twelve healthy 6-month-old New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned to 4 groups ( n=3): sham group, PRP group, anastomosis group, and combined treatment group. An axial skin flap with an area of 12 cm×6 cm on the inner side of the hind limbs of all animals were prepared, with the saphenous artery as the main blood supply. Following the ligation of both the proximal and distal ends of the saphenous artery across all groups, the sham group received no further intervention, the PRP group was subjected to PRP injection, the anastomosis group underwent in situ end-to-end anastomosis of the distal saphenous artery, and the combined treatment group received both in situ distal saphenous artery anastomosis and PRP administration. Flap survival was evaluated and recorded on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7, with survival rates calculated accordingly. On day 7, flap tissue samples were harvested for HE staining to assess basal tissue morphology. Additionally, immunohistochemical staining was conducted to detect the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and CD31 in the flap tissues.
RESULTS:
At postoperative day 1, no significant difference in flap survival rates were observed among the 4 groups ( P>0.05). At day 3, the PRP group showed no significant difference compared to the sham group ( P>0.05); however, both the anastomosis and combined treatment groups exhibited significantly higher survival rates than the sham group ( P<0.05), the combined treatment group further demonstrated superior survival rates compared to both the PRP and anastomosis groups ( P<0.05). At day 7, the combined treatment group maintained significantly higher survival rates than all other groups ( P<0.05), while both the PRP and anastomosis groups exceeded the sham group ( P<0.05). HE staining at day 7 revealed persistent inflammatory cell infiltration, sheet-like erythrocyte deposition, and disordered collagen fibers in the sham group. The PRP group showed nascent microvessel formation and early collagen reorganization, whereas the anastomosis group displayed mature microvasculature with resolved interstitial edema. The combined treatment group exhibited differentiated microvessels with densely packed collagen bundles. Immunohistochemical analysis at day 7 demonstrated significantly larger relative area percentages of α-SMA, VEGF, and CD31 positive cells in the combined treatment group compared to all other groups ( P<0.05). Both the PRP and anastomosis groups also showed significantly higher values than the sham group ( P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The combination of PRP and arterial supercharging techniques significantly enhances flap healing, potentially through mechanisms involving augmented angiogenesis and improved blood supply.
Animals
;
Rabbits
;
Platelet-Rich Plasma
;
Surgical Flaps/blood supply*
;
Graft Survival
;
Anastomosis, Surgical/methods*
;
Ischemia/surgery*
;
Arteries/surgery*
;
Skin/blood supply*
;
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism*
;
Male
;
Skin Transplantation/methods*

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