Targeting Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Treatment of Impaired Wound Healing: A Systematic...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical science
• Cell biology
• Wound healing research

Background:

• Wound healing is a complex biological process involving distinct phases.
• Factors like diabetes, aging, and infection can impair healing, leading to chronic wounds.
• Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a dual role, essential at low levels but damaging in excess, causing oxidative stress and non-healing wounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in wound healing.
• To investigate the potential of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory strategies for chronic wound treatment.
• To highlight mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants, specifically elamipretide, for their therapeutic potential.

Main Methods:

• Review of experimental and clinical studies on wound healing and oxidative stress.
• Analysis of the mechanisms by which ROS influence wound healing phases.
• Examination of the effects of mitochondrial-targeted peptides on cellular signaling pathways.

Main Results:

• Low concentrations of ROS are necessary for microbial defense and cell signaling in wound healing.
• Excessive ROS production or impaired detoxification leads to oxidative damage, a primary cause of chronic non-healing wounds.
• Mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants, such as elamipretide, can mitigate mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation.

Conclusions:

• Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory strategies are beneficial for non-healing wounds.
• Mitochondrial-targeted peptides like elamipretide offer a promising therapeutic approach.
• Elamipretide may exert its effects by modulating NLRP3 inflammasome, NF-κB, and Nrf2 pathways, addressing key aspects of chronic wound pathology.