Role of discoidin domain receptor 2 in wound healing

Until recently, collagen interactions with cells had been ascribed to integrins. The identification of the Discoidin Domain Receptor (DDR) family as collagen receptors represents a new paradigm in the regulation of collagen-cell interactions. How DDR signaling is biochemically linked to specific cell regulatory functions remains largely unknown. Moreover, the characteristic slow and substained phosphorylation of DDRs and the elevated expression of DDR2 in the myofibroblasts of healing wounds suggest a role for DDR2 in physiological and pathological wound healing. In fact, DDR2 signaling regulates cell proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis, which are key aspects of fibroblast contribution to tissue healing. In this review we summarize evidence in favor of this concept.