Role of caveolin-1 in epidermal stem cells during burn wound healing in rats

Local transplantation of stem cells has therapeutic effects on skin damage but cannot provide satisfactory wound healing. Studies on the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of stem cells on skin wound healing will be needed. Hence, in the present study, we explored the role of Caveolin-1 in epidermal stem cells (EpiSCs) in the modulation of wound healing. We first isolated EpiSCs from mouse skin tissues and established stable EpiSCs with overexpression of Caveolin-1 using a lentiviral construct. We then evaluated the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced cell proliferation ability using cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and assessed EpiSC pluripotency by examining Nanog mRNA levels in EpiSCs. Furthermore, we treated mice with skin burn injury using EpiSCs with overexpression of Caveolin-1. Histological examinations were conducted to evaluate re-epithelialization, wound scores, cell proliferation and capillary density in wounds. We found that overexpression of Caveolin-1 in EpiSCs promoted EGF-induced cell proliferation ability and increased wound closure in a mouse model of skin burn injury. Histological evaluation demonstrated that overexpression of Caveolin-1 in EpiSCs promoted re-epithelialization in wounds, enhanced cellularity, and increased vasculature, as well as increased wound scores. Taken together, our results suggested that Caveolin-1 expression in the EpiSCs play a critical role in the regulation of EpiSC proliferation ability and alteration of EpiSC proliferation ability may be an effective approach in promoting EpiSC-based therapy in skin wound healing.