Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 22, 2026
08:34
Microscopy Based Methods for the Assessment of Epithelial Cell Migration During In Vitro Wound Healing
Published on: January 2, 2018
10.1K
Wound repair: a showcase for cell plasticity and migration
1King's College London - Centre for Molecular and Cellular Biology of Inflammation, London SE1 1UL, UK.
Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|April 18, 2016
Summary
Skin wound repair involves dynamic cell plasticity, where various cell types reprogram and migrate to heal damage. This process mirrors developmental and disease mechanisms, highlighting unique cellular behaviors in adult tissue regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cell Biology
- Wound Healing Research
Background:
- Skin wound repair necessitates significant cellular plasticity.
- Multiple cell lineages, including keratinocytes, fibroblasts, immune cells, and endothelial cells, are crucial for tissue regeneration.
- These cells undergo activation, reprogramming, migration, and resolution in response to wound cues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the dynamic cellular behaviors and plasticity involved in skin wound repair.
- To understand the reprogramming and migration processes of various cell types during tissue regeneration.
- To highlight the unique aspects of adult tissue repair compared to development and disease.
Main Methods:
- Observational studies of cell migration and behavior at wound sites.
- Analysis of cellular reprogramming in response to wound-induced cues.
- Comparative studies of adult tissue repair with developmental and disease processes.
Main Results:
- Skin wound repair involves dynamic activation, reprogramming, and migration of multiple cell lineages.
- Keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts, immune cells, and endothelial cells exhibit plasticity essential for healing.
- The cellular changes observed in wound repair are comparable to those seen in development and disease.
Conclusions:
- Adult skin wound repair is a complex process driven by dynamic cellular plasticity.
- Understanding these cellular dynamics offers insights into regenerative medicine and therapeutic strategies.
- The cellular plasticity in wound healing shares similarities with developmental processes and pathological conditions.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Cell Migration
7.3K
Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.
7.3K
01:09Cell Migration
19.1K
Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
19.1K
01:28Phases of Wound Repair
9.4K
Following injury, the integrity of the injured tissues must be reestablished. For example, in skin tissue, wound repair involves coordination among resident skin cells, blood mononuclear cells, extracellular matrix, growth factors, and cytokines to complete the healing cascade.
Formation of Blood Clot
In case of deep injuries, trauma to blood vessels results in blood loss. In the meantime, phospholipids released from the ruptured endothelial cellular membrane are converted into arachidonic...
Formation of Blood Clot
In case of deep injuries, trauma to blood vessels results in blood loss. In the meantime, phospholipids released from the ruptured endothelial cellular membrane are converted into arachidonic...
9.4K
01:19Overview of Regeneration and Repair
5.7K
Regeneration and repair processes are critical in healing damages caused by injury, disease, and aging. In regeneration, the damaged tissue is entirely replaced with new growth that restores the original architecture and function. In contrast, tissue repair usually results in a fixed tissue architecture involving scar formation. Scars generally do not reestablish tissue function and may also exhibit structural abnormalities at the injury site.
Regeneration
All animals have varying degrees of...
Regeneration
All animals have varying degrees of...
5.7K
01:09Introduction to Fibroblasts
4.3K
Rudolph Virchow discovered spindle-shaped cells called fibroblasts in 1858. Inactive fibroblasts, called fibrocytes, become activated by various stimuli, such as growth factors and inflammatory cytokines. Activated fibroblasts play a crucial role in wound healing, inflammation, formation of new blood vessels, and cancer progression. Uncontrolled activation of fibroblasts results in fibrosis, the excess deposition of fibrous tissue, which can lead to scarring and affect normal organs. This...
4.3K
01:19Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells
3.4K
Epidermal stem cells (EpiSCs) are mainly located at the basal layer of the epidermis. These cells repair minor injuries of the skin and replace dead skin cells. However, EpiSCs’ cannot heal severe wounds such as major burns or those from diabetes or hereditary disorders. In such cases, culturing the epidermal stem cells from the patient is possible and has yielded successful treatment options, such as laboratory-grown skin grafts. These grafts are synthesized using a patient’s own...
3.4K