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Updated: Sep 22, 2025

Assessment of Acute Wound Healing using the Dorsal Subcutaneous Polyvinyl Alcohol Sponge Implantation and Excisional Tail Skin Wound Models.
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Assessment of Acute Wound Healing using the Dorsal Subcutaneous Polyvinyl Alcohol Sponge Implantation and Excisional Tail Skin Wound Models.

Published on: March 25, 2020

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Regulation of wound healing and fibrosis by galectins

Dong Yu1,2, Ming Bu1,2, Ping Yu1

  • 1Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China.

Journal of Molecular Medicine (Berlin, Germany)
|May 19, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Galectins, proteins involved in cell interactions, are crucial for wound healing. This review explores their role in inflammation, proliferation, and scar formation, highlighting their therapeutic potential for wound treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Galectins are proteins characterized by their carbohydrate-recognition domain.
  • They are widely distributed in tissues and involved in diverse physiological and pathological processes.
  • Wound healing, a critical recovery mechanism, comprises inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling stages.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of galectins in the key stages of wound healing.
  • To compare the functions of galectins in wound healing with their roles in the tumor microenvironment.
  • To evaluate the therapeutic potential of galectins for wound management.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on galectins and wound healing.
  • Analysis of galectin involvement in inflammation, angiogenesis, re-epithelialization, and fibrosis.
  • Comparative analysis with galectin functions in tumor microenvironments.

Main Results:

  • Galectins significantly influence inflammation, angiogenesis, re-epithelialization, and fibrous scar formation during wound repair.
  • Similarities exist in galectin-mediated processes between wound healing and tumor microenvironments.
  • Galectins demonstrate potential as therapeutic targets for enhancing wound healing.

Conclusions:

  • Galectins are key regulators of wound healing processes.
  • Targeting galectins may offer novel therapeutic strategies for improving wound outcomes.
  • Further research into galectin-based therapies is warranted for effective wound management.
Keywords:
AngiogenesisFibrosisGalectinInflammationRe-epithelialisationWound healing

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