Peimine Promotes Skin Wound Repair in Mice by Activating the Notch1 Signaling Pathway in Fibroblasts

This study aimed to investigate the effects of peimine on cutaneous wound healing efficiency and tissue regeneration in murine models, while exploring its regulatory mechanisms through the Notch1 signaling pathway. Full-thickness circular skin defects (8-mm diameter) were surgically created on the dorsal surface of C57BL/6 mice, with subsequent daily topical administration of peimine at 1 and 4 mg · kg^-1 doses. Parallel in vitro experiments using NIH/3T3 fibroblasts were conducted with peimine treatments at 25 and 100 μmol · L^-1 concentrations to assess neurogenic locus notch homolog protein 1 (Notch1) pathway activation. Key findings demonstrated that peimine treatment significantly enhanced both the rate of wound closure and granulation tissue formation. Histological analysis revealed increased epidermal thickness in peimine-treated groups compared to controls. The compound promoted extracellular matrix remodeling in the dermal layer, evidenced by elevated protein expression of collagen IIIα1 (Col3α1), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and the endothelial marker (CD31). Western blot analysis confirmed consistent upregulation of Notch1 pathway components in both in vivo wound tissues and in vitro fibroblast cultures, indicating that peimine accelerates wound repair through Notch1 signaling activation.