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Updated: May 1, 2026

A Novel In Vitro Wound Healing Assay to Evaluate Cell Migration
Published on: March 17, 2018
Dectin-1 activation induces proliferation and migration of human keratinocytes enhancing wound re-epithelialization
Linda M van den Berg1, Esther M Zijlstra-Willems1, Cornelia D Richters2
1Department of Experimental Immunology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Beta-glucans in temporary wound dressings have immuno-stimulatory capacities and have been shown to enhance wound healing in burn patients. Curdlan is a 1,3-linked bacterial/fungal derived beta-glucan that induces inflammatory responses via the C-type lectin receptor dectin-1 on dendritic cells (DCs). Here we investigated the effect of beta-glucan curdlan and the role of dectin-1 expressed by keratinocytes (KCs) in wound healing. Curdlan enhanced migration, proliferation and wound closure of human KCs in a dectin-1 dependent manner, both in vitro and ex vivo. Our data suggest that curdlan induces human KC proliferation and migration and could therefore be used in creams to enhance wound healing.
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