Unfolded protein responses: Dynamic machinery in wound healing

Area of Science:

• Cellular Biology
• Molecular Biology
• Tissue Regeneration

Background:

• Skin wound healing is a complex, multi-stage process influenced by various intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
• Cellular protein synthesis and degradation during healing increase endoplasmic reticulum (ER) load, potentially causing ER stress.
• The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a cellular mechanism that responds to ER stress, impacting tissue homeostasis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of canonical and noncanonical UPR pathways in skin wound healing.
• To summarize evidence on UPR's dual role in maintaining homeostasis and driving pathophysiology during healing.
• To identify therapeutic opportunities within UPR pathways for wound management.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on UPR pathways in skin wound healing.
• Analysis of studies examining UPR's involvement in different stages of wound repair.
• Synthesis of evidence on UPR's impact on cellular processes and tissue regeneration.

Main Results:

• UPR pathways are integral to skin wound healing, influencing cellular responses to ER stress.
• UPR can be beneficial for tissue repair but may trigger apoptosis when ER stress is excessive.
• The balance of UPR signaling is critical for successful wound healing outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Understanding UPR's modulation of skin injury response is vital for developing new wound healing interventions.
• Targeting UPR pathways offers potential therapeutic strategies for managing acute and chronic wounds.
• Further research into understudied areas of UPR in wound healing may reveal novel treatment avenues.